Police officers to plant coffee to boost household incomes and welfare
The Force's Directorate of Welfare, Production and Sports is spearheading the programme, which has so far distributed more than 50,000 coffee seedlings with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
KAMPALA, April 23, 2026 — More than 210 police officers in Kampala have received coffee seedlings under a new initiative aimed at boosting household incomes and improving welfare.
The Force’s Directorate of Welfare, Production and Sports is spearheading the programme, which has so far distributed more than 50,000 coffee seedlings with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF].
The initiative is intended to encourage officers to develop sustainable income streams beyond their monthly salaries and reduce overdependence on the force.
The programme was launched days ago by Assistant Inspector General of Police Hadijah Namutebi at the Police Duty Free Shop in Nsambya, Kampala.
Namutebi urged officers to embrace agriculture as a reliable, long-term investment, noting that coffee growing in particular can provide steady returns when properly managed.
“The welfare directorate is committed to equipping officers with opportunities that go beyond traditional employment benefits,” she said.
She also encouraged officers to take advantage of subsidised construction materials available through the Police Duty Free Shop, explaining that the programme is designed to help them achieve personal development goals, such as building homes, while maintaining financial stability.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts within the police force to promote self-reliance and economic resilience among officers, with agriculture positioned as a key pillar for securing their future.
It is expected to eventually reach at least 80,000 police officers in both urban centres and rural areas.
Officers who spoke to theCooperator expressed interest in growing coffee, although some said they lack land on which to cultivate the perennial crop.
In 2017, Uganda adopted the Uganda Coffee Roadmap, a national strategy aimed at increasing production to 20 million bags and export earnings to between US$1.5 billion and US$2.2 billion by 2030.
The Monthly Coffee Report for February 2026 released by MAAIF shows that year-on-year coffee exports [March 2025 to February 2026] totalled 8.8 million bags, valued at US$2.5 billion [about Shs 9trn]. This represents a significant increase from 6.3mln bags worth US$1.6bln [Shs 6trn] recorded in the previous year.
https://thecooperator.news/kenyan-tea-and-coffee-cooperatives-step-up-fight-against-child-labour/
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