Masindi residents asked to embrace coffee growing to improve household incomes

MASINDI, November 22, 2024 — Residents of Masindi district have been challenged to engage in coffee growing as one way of improving their household income.

The call was made by Father Joseph Birungi the Vicar Masindi Vicariate who had accompanied Bishop Vincent Kirabo of Hoima Catholic Diocese who had paid a visit to Rogers Byamukama at his home. Byamukama is the executive member of the Federation of Uganda Football Association [FUFA].

“Invest in coffee growing because the prices are good and attractive. As a parish we have established a plantation of eight acres of coffee as a motivation for Christian believers to establish their own for improved household incomes,” he said, adding that following their partnership with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority [UCDA] in 2019, many people have now picked interest in coffee growing in the region.

Before heading to Byamukama’s home, Bishop Kirabo first had a tour at the eight acre coffee demonstration at Nyamigisa Catholic Parish where he was mesmerized by the good looking coffee.

Bishop Kirabo has introduced various projects aimed at improving the wellbeing of the faithful.

“As we preach the word of God, we want to ensure that believers are hardworking, have money and can be able to have model families, with their children going to school,” he said. “As a Church, we want to see people who are well off because they can be able to support the Church.”

He was happy after he found Byamukama with a model home advising that model homes can can be sustained by morally upright children.

“Make good homes by being exemplary. Be good  models to your children. This will help to sustain the good legacy of your families. You can’t have a good family when you have not groomed well your children. Make sure that you educate your children both formally and informally,” said Kirabo, adding that many children have gone astray due to lack of adequate guidance.

The Bishop’s visit was also graced by the former Bunyoro Affairs minister, Ernest Kiiza among other dignitaries who called upon the people of Masindi to put much emphasis on coffee growing since it Is a favourable crop both economically and environmentally.

Byamukama donated 100 bags of cement towards the construction of the women and children’s hospital being constructed by Hoima Catholic Diocese in Hoima City.

In April this year, Bishops from western Uganda came for a benchmarking tour of Hoima Catholic Diocese.

The Bishop of Kasese Catholic Diocese, Francis Kibira Acquirinus  challenged the leadership of Hoima Catholic Diocese to organise coffee farmers into associations, saying this would help the growers to speak with one voice when marketing their produce.

“Organise the farmers involved in coffee growing in the entire Hoima Catholic Diocese into associations such that they are able to speak with one voice when bargaining. This will also help them to learn from each other the best agronomic practices,” said Kibira.

The clergy were excited by coffee demonstration gardens where best agronomic practices are showcased for the benefit of the farmers.

In 2019, Hoima Catholic Diocese signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with UCDA to promote coffee growing amongst the Catholic believers in the diocese.

https://thecooperator.news/africas-coffee-exports-surge-14-3-percent-in-september-2024-ico-report/

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