Bugisu religious leaders urge coffee farmers to deal with BCU

SIRONKO– Religious Leaders from Bugisu Sub-region have urged coffee farmers from Sironko and Bulambuli districts to work with Bugisu Cooperative Union [BCU], saying the cooperation will lead to the development of the region known for producing Arabica coffee.

The religious leaders led by the Bishop of North Mbale Diocese Rt. Rev. Samuel Gidudu told parish leaders of the two districts to promote unity among the people, saying it is one way of boosting Arabica coffee production as they work with BCU.

Bishop said Gidudu also the chairperson of Bugisu Inter-religious institutions said the meeting with parish leaders was to seek ideas on reviving ownership, love and passion for BCU, which gets coffee from different primary societies in the region.

Bishop Gidudu said that for Bugisu to attain economic independence, BCU must be at the forefront.

Barbra Wasagali the BCU General Manager asked the sub-county leaders to embrace the ongoing sensitisation meetings if they are to own the union.

BCU is engaged in zonal mobilisation meetings with coffee farmers in Bugisu Sub-region as one of the measures to increase the supply of green coffee to the union.

The mobilisation of the coffee farmers is being spearheaded by board members led by Chairman Nathan Nandala Mafabi.

BCU offers scholarships to the region’s students to study at universities and institutions of higher learning, this is meant to encourage farmers under their cooperative societies to supply coffee to the union as it faces competition from private players, some which are international companies.

History

BCU has existed during and after colonial times, even though coffee was introduced in the region in 1912.

The thought to form a cooperative union was precipitated by European and Asian private traders who benefited from Bugisu coffee more than the Bagisu themselves.

In the 1920s, European and Asian private traders were the coffee buyers. They created what was called “the buying ring” in 1927 whose purpose was “to eliminate wasteful competition” – literally translated to mean forcing down the Bugisu coffee prices. The predatory nature of this buying ring was such that they had to buy coffee right from the grassroots at very low prices. This agitated the Bagisu who were getting a raw deal from their coffee.

Bugisu Coffee Scheme
In 1931, prominent Bagisu [Samson Kitutu, S.K. Mutenyo, J.N.K Wakholi, X.M.M. Gunigina, Fenekas Masaaba, Wagisi and others] formed the Bugisu Coffee Scheme [BCS] to supervise the marketing of their coffee. But their secret objective was to promote a cooperative.

However, the powers of BCS was hijacked by central administration and three trading companies – sharing and organizing coffee processing, marketing and regulating coffee price. A. Baumann & Company took the leading role.

In 1933, because of pressure, BCS was given exclusive buying rights – but it was operated by a European Manager hired by a District Commissioner. Although the BCS was for Bagisu, more lucrative positions were taken by Europeans, Asians and Baganda. There was a Board of Director [BOD] that comprised five members – with two Bagisu representatives.

Foreign Interference
In 1938, with interest to reduce her controlling powers, BCS was contracted to do only coffee collection from farmers – but not to sell. In 1940, a new company, Bugisu Coffee Marketing Company (BCMC), an all-European owned company, was formed. It took the lucrative role of coffee marketing – so BCS would do the donkey work of collecting and delivering it BCMC for selling and earning abnormal profits. The entire Board of BCS was left with a peripheral role of advisory.

Between 1944 and 1949, after bitter complaints by the Bagisu farmers about the structure of BCMC, two more Bagisu representatives from were appointed to serve as a channel to farmers and to agitate for the rights of farmers. But the BCMC remained in full control. The Bagisu conviction that they were being grossly cheated by the company became deeply rooted.

Taking Advantage of the Cooperative Law
In 1946, Samson Kitutu with group took advantage of the new cooperative law provision to quickly root for the formation of BCU – whose purpose was to have own control and eliminate BCMC and foreign control of their coffee.
For information, Kitutu was a prominent evangelist for the protestant church and was leader of the Bugisu Welfare Association in the 1920s.

In the same year, the first two primary societies were formed and started operating. By 1949, 24 societies were formed.

In 1950, motivated by the strength of the 24 primary societies, the Bagisu refused to renew the contract with BCMC – and instead contracted BCS resume the role of collecting coffee.

BCU Formation
The cooperative idea of 1931 came to fruition in 1954. BCU was formed. Arabica Coffee became Bugisu coffee in its true sense. BCU offered an institutional framework for achieving control over their primary source of livelihood. It became a symbol of Bugisu Unity. It was an agency of economic nationalism – and a comprehensive framework through which gisu solidarity could be expressed.

https://thecooperator.news/bcu-to-arrest-members-over-failure-to-pay-back-loans/

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