LIRA CITY, July 29, 2025 –– A number of Persons with Disabilities [PWDs] in Lira City in Lango Subregion have taken up coffee farming, hoping the perennial crop, one of Uganda’s top foreign exchange earners, will help secure a better future for their families.
The initiative is spearheaded by Matthew Omara, 58, Chairperson of PWDs in both Lira City and Lira district. Omara, who is visually impaired and resides in Lira City East Division, began planting coffee seedlings two years ago and expects to harvest his first crop next year.
“Perennial crops like coffee are ideal for vulnerable groups in Uganda,” Omara explained. “You plant once, and thereafter, it’s all about maintaining the plantation. For someone like me who is not on the government payroll, this coffee plantation is my pension. It will support my family, especially with school fees and other essential needs.”
Omara’s enthusiasm has inspired others. So far, around a good number of the PWDs have applied for seedlings and are preparing their gardens in anticipation of planting.
Aisha Bint Abdu, the Female Councillor representing PWDs in Lira City, confirmed she had registered for coffee seedlings and was preparing her two-acre garden for planting.
“I’m getting my land ready while I wait for the seedlings,” she said.
Lira City is home to over 1,000 PWDs, yet fewer than 100 have shown interest in coffee farming. Omara attributes the low uptake to poverty and a lack of accessible information.
“There is a serious communication gap, especially for people who are deaf and struggle to access agricultural information,” he said. “Also, farming coffee requires initial investment, and many PWDs simply do not have the resources to get started.”
However, some are already benefiting from existing coffee plantations. Patrick Lukas, a resident of Acukuru A Cell in Boroboro West Ward, Lira City, said his family is managing a coffee garden inherited from their late father.
“Our father planted coffee in 2000, and we’ve continued to maintain and expand the garden,” Lukas said. “The income helps us, particularly with school fees for his grandchildren.”
Andrew Okello Awany, the regional agricultural officer for Lira, Alebtong, and Otuke districts, acknowledged that coffee farming requires some capital, which can be a barrier for many PWDs. He encouraged them to reach out to his office for support.
“Resources are essential for successful coffee farming,” Okello said. “Many PWDs lack the financial means to invest in agriculture. However, we welcome them to our office where we can offer special assistance. Affirmative action is part of our policy, and we are committed to supporting disadvantaged groups.”
Coffee growing is expanding in the Lango subregion of Uganda, with the former Uganda Coffee Development Authority [UCDA] actively promoting it as a means to alleviate poverty. While some farmers are hesitant due to past reliance on cotton, others are embracing coffee as a more profitable and sustainable enterprise. The Lango Cooperative Union is also involved in encouraging farmers to adopt coffee farming and providing them with support.
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