Speaker Oboth champions coffee and cocoa as tools to fight poverty in Bukedi

TORORO, July 1, 2026 — The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth, has urged communities in the Bukedi Sub-region to harness the economic potential of coffee and cocoa production as a means of breaking the cycle of household poverty.

Speaking at the official launch of the Coffee and Cocoa Household Poverty Eradication Initiative, Oboth described the project as a vital turning point for a region long endowed with agricultural potential but still constrained by widespread poverty.

The high-profile event, held at the Tororo Municipal Council Gardens last week, was officiated by Vice-President Jessica Alupo and attended by Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, local government leaders, cultural and religious leaders, and farming communities.

Oboth stressed that the initiative goes beyond a standard agricultural distribution programme, describing it as the beginning of a renewed drive towards wealth creation, economic empowerment, and improved household incomes.

Pointing to Bukedi’s fertile soils and favourable climate, he said coffee and cocoa remain key export commodities with strong potential to boost household incomes.

“Agriculture is no longer subsistence farming alone; it is a business capable of creating sustainable jobs and wealth when approached with the right mindset and technology,” he said.

He urged farmers to move away from traditional low-yield practices in favour of modern farming methods, including the use of quality planting materials, environmental conservation, and organisation into strong cooperatives to strengthen collective bargaining power in the market.

Linking the initiative to existing government wealth-creation programmes such as the Parish Development Model [PDM], Oboth reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to the agricultural sector.

He pledged that the legislature would prioritise increased budget allocations and supportive policies aimed at improving rural infrastructure, expanding extension services, and promoting agro-industrialisation.

The Speaker also cautioned against the misuse of resources intended for agricultural development, emphasising that the success of the initiative depends on transparency and accountability.

“As Parliament, we will continue to provide oversight to ensure that public resources reach the intended beneficiaries,” he said, urging local government leaders to ensure fairness during community mobilisation so that no household is left behind.

Oboth commended President Yoweri Museveni for his leadership in poverty alleviation strategies and praised Vice-President Alupo for her commitment to promoting development programmes in rural communities.

Vice-President Alupo highlighted the need for improved irrigation infrastructure, calling on the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to expedite water-for-production interventions.

“Coffee and cocoa require adequate moisture, especially during establishment and flowering stages,” she said, urging the adoption of small-scale irrigation systems, water harvesting technologies, valley tanks and dams, community water reservoirs, and sustainable watershed management practices.

She also encouraged farmers to diversify into coffee and cocoa alongside existing enterprises in the region, including fruit growing, fish farming, dairy, poultry, and piggery, while cautioning against neglecting food crop production.

With the launch of the Coffee and Cocoa Household Poverty Eradication Initiative, local leaders and development partners expressed optimism that the Bukedi Sub-region is now better positioned to transition from subsistence farming to a more prosperous, market-driven agricultural economy.

According to government records, Bukedi Sub-region is the second poorest region in Uganda, with a poverty rate of 37 percent, trailing only Karamoja. Home to approximately 2.4 million people across districts like Tororo, Busia, Pallisa, Budaka, Butebo, Kibuku, and Butaleja, the region found in eastern Uganda, struggles with high rates of food insecurity and malnutrition.

https://thecooperator.news/jacob-oboth-oboth-elected-speaker-of-the-12th-parliament/

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