As the debate on whether to merge or not to merge the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) through rationalization of government agencies and public expenditure (RAPEX) policy rages on, it has ignited far reaching statements from both Buganda and Uganda governments.
In the latest development, Buganda Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga, in a statement over the weekend, referred to the move as a calculation to punish Baganda who contribute nearly 50 per cent of the over two million Ugandans engaged in the coffee industry.
Katikkiro Mayiga’s statement noted that Buganda has severally advised against scrapping the UCDA arguing that it superintends production which is the mainstay of nearly two million Ugandans.
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“Because Baganda contributes nearly 50 per cent of coffee exports, scrapping the UCDA is seen by (speaker) Anita Among and those in support, as victory against Baganda,” Mayega’s statement reads on.
From parliament however, a number of MPs especially from the opposition are opposed to the scrapping because they argue, UCDA has over the years outperformed the mother ministry by helping farmers and increasing coffee exports.
Bugisu and Buganda MPs recently issued a stern warning that scrapping UCDA would have disastrous consequences for the coffee industry, and affect the livelihoods of over 12.5 million people.
President Museveni who has all along been opposed to the school of thought that ministries are incapable of managing huge tasks ahead because their staff are permanent and pensionable, argues that the national army UPDF, are permanent and pensionable but are doing well.
In a statement to Ugandans especially the ‘Bazzukulu’ Museveni, in apparent reaction to Katikkiro Mayega, wrote that it is sheer dishonesty to bring up tribalism where the NRM is involved, and indicated that massive industries built by the NRM are mainly in Buganda particularly in Namanve, Mukono, Kapeeka and Matugga-Gombe area, the Luweero industries in Nakasongola, Kisozi and elsewhere.
In reference to people in this school of thought, the President quoted the bible writing literally meaning that some people leave undone what is expected of them and they do what they are not supposed to do.
He said that if populations in the neighbourhood of these industries are well guided, they would have direct benefits. He added that in Rwakitura, a litre of milk goes for sh1,050 when the market is good, while in Kampala, it fetches sh2,000.
“The difference is caused by proximity to the huge commercial and industrial centre of Kampala, Mukono, Wakiso area”, he stressed.
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He asked people he called negative chauvinists, to stop deceiving people and tell them frankly that it is the NRM that rehabilitated, re-oriented and expanded the commercial-industrial zone after mistakes of the 60s, 70s and 90s.
Expounding on his stand on UCDA rationalization, Museveni explained that today’s nine million coffee bags exported fetch USD 900m up from 2 million bags of 1986, adding however that even this USD 900m is peanuts because Uganda still exports unprocessed coffee beans.
He estimated that if value addition involving coffee roasting, grinding and packing is applied, we shall earn maybe fifteen times more than the current earnings.
Katikkiro Mayega however noted that all this notwithstanding, Mengo’s ‘Emmwanyi Terimba’ campaign will go on unabated, and told especially Baganda coffee growers that what is happening is present day politics which, he observed, is less important than the livelihoods of Baganda and other Ugandans.
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