By Homeland Media Team
The Katikkiro (Prime Minister) of the Kingdom of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga has said coffee growing under their “Emmwanyi Terimba” initiative will go on unabated despite the planned disbandment of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
“I urge Baganda (and other Ugandans) to continue growing coffee: your livelihood is more important than the motives of present day politicians,” he said, a day after Parliament voted to advance the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposes the dissolution of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority after 32 years of operation.
He said the Kingdom of Buganda has severally advised against scrapping UCDA since it superintends coffee production, upon which nearly two million Ugandan households depend.
“Apparently, scrapping UCDA is a punishment against Baganda, who contribute nearly 50% of coffee exports, since Speaker Anita Among (and those who support scrapping UCDA) see the Amendment Bill as a victory against Baganda,” he added in reference to a controversial video that captured the tension before the vote in parliament. In the video, whose source is not clear, Speaker Among is heard urging MPs in Parliament to prevent the MPs from Buganda from blocking the proposal, which many interpret as antagonistic toward the Baganda.
In a post on X, Mayiga expressed his bewilderment at how and why bringing this authority under the Ministry is viewed as a success against Buganda.
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