Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom urges gov’t not to abolish UCDA

HOIMA, November 4, 2024 — Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom [BKK] Prime Minister Andrew Byakutaga has called on the government to withdraw the bill proposing the phasing out of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority [UCDA], arguing that its elimination would be a significant mistake on the side of government.

The government, led by President Yoweri Museveni, aims to repeal the Act establishing UCDA and transfer its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries [MAAIF] as part of a broader plan to streamline operations and reduce costs by phasing out several entities, including the Dairy Development Authority [DDA] and the Uganda National Roads Authority [UNRA].

Byakutaga in a telephone interview with this reporter stated on Saturday that many subjects of Bunyoro Kingdom are financially constrained, emphasising that coffee is a key cash crop capable of lifting the kingdom’s subjects out of poverty. He highlighted the partnership with UCDA, which has mobilised communities to embrace coffee cultivation and establish various coffee demonstration farms in the region.

He underscored UCDA’s crucial role in enhancing both the production and quality of coffee, noting that Bunyoro has experienced a 40 percent increase in coffee growing over the past five years due to UCDA’s support.

Byakutaga stressed the need for a specialised body like UCDA to oversee the coffee sector. “Coffee should be regarded as an important crop that requires independent management,” he said, drawing a parallel with the establishment of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda [PAU], and the Uganda National Oil Company [UNOC] after oil was discovered in Bunyoro. “These entities were created to ensure effective management of our oil resources, and coffee deserves the same consideration.”

He expressed concern that MAAIF, where the government plans to transfer UCDA’s responsibilities, is already overwhelmed with numerous tasks related to various crops, fisheries, and animal husbandry. “Adding coffee to the ministry’s responsibilities will stretch it too thin,” he warned, urging the government to retain UCDA and provide it with adequate funding to extend its outreach to all farmers across the country.

Patrick Isingoma Mwesigwa Obama, the Member of Parliament for Hoima East Division, echoed Byakutaga’s sentiments, stating that UCDA should be excluded from the list of agencies slated for abolition.

He emphasised that UCDA is self-sustaining and has been instrumental in promoting coffee, a crop that many farmers in Bunyoro rely on to improve their financial status. One of the reasons government has put forward to merge or abolish some of its agencies is to cut expenditure.

While meeting NRM Parliamentary Caucus, and East African Legislative Assembly [EALA] members on Saturday in Gomba district, Museveni insisted that rationalisation of UCDA will go on as planned, warning those who are opposed to the move that they are playing with fire. “We are going to have a showdown, they are liars and criminals playing with fire. They will not like the counterattack,” he said.

John Babiha, a farmer from Kitoba Subcounty when interviewed for this story also said UCDA should stay. “UCDA has been supporting us on issues of seedling distribution, but also quality assurance. I don’t see the reason why government wants to abolish it. It should stay,” he said.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Kenya, the Coffee Bill 2023 is now before the National Assembly. In that Bill, the reestablishment of the Coffee Board of Kenya to market coffee for farmers instead of private entrepreneurs, has been recommended. Another recommendation in the Bill, is the revival of the Coffee Research Foundation to work on disease tolerant crop varieties.

https://thecooperator.news/dont-dissolve-ucda-strengthen-it/

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