Government is seeking guidance from President Yoweri Museveni on reinstating direct funding for the distribution of coffee seedlings after farmers complained they can no longer access them through the Parish Development Model (PDM).
Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze disclosed this during the plenary sitting of August 20, 2026, while responding to a question by Patrick Musinguzi (Kashari North), who said he had received overwhelming requests for coffee seedlings from farmers.
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth-Oboth tasked the Minister to address the complaints, noting that the shift from directly supplying seedlings to farmers to channeling them through the PDM had hurt farmers.
“Ugandans were used to the seedlings. That policy shift is a pain. Yes, it is a pain,” Oboth said.
Tumwebaze explained that previously, coffee seedlings were centrally distributed through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and through MPs and registered operators, but the funds were later merged into PDM.
“When money was mopped up and put into the framework of PDM, which is substantially a big chunk of money sent to the parishes, the policy understanding is that people get that money and buy for themselves, but mainly the coffee seedling issue seems not be fitting well within PDM, and we will get guidance from the President and Cabinet on how we can do it. But unfortunately for this season, we do not have money for seedlings, I have to be on record,” Tumwebaze said.
