MBARARA – Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) is in collaboration with Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) to construct a coffee learning hub at Kihumuro Campus on Mbarara-Bushenyi road.
In a letter dated 10th January 2022, addressed to the Vice Chancellor Mbarara University of Science and Technology, UCDA’s Managing Director Dr Emmanuel Iyamulemye requested for allocation of land for the establishment of a coffee learning hub at the campus.
“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to request for allocation of five (5) acres of land at the MUST Campus along the Mbarara-Bushenyi road for establishment of the coffee learning hub. We will greatly appreciate the University Council’s positive consideration,” reads part of the letter.
According to Dr Iyamulemye, the proposal was derived from a meeting held on 8th June 2021 between the university council together with UCDA’s top officials.
“Reference is made to a meeting with the Chairman University Council of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the Member of Parliament, Mbarara City North and myself on 8th June 2021,” he said.
During the meeting, Lyamulemye confirmed that a preliminary request was made for allocation of land for establishment of a coffee learning hub at MUST.
UCDA’s Managing Director adds that the proposed coffee learning hub will be established through joint funding at the cost of about Shs. 1.4 billion and will be implemented in a phased manner starting with an initial joint funding of USD 25,000 from the Inter Africa Coffee Organization (IACO).
“The rest of the resources will be financed from UCDA annual budgetary allocations,” said lyamulemye.
He further said, the coffee learning hub will consist of a coffee demonstration garden, training centre, coffee roaster, a café, conference facilities and office space for UCDA Regional office for South Western region.
According to Dr lyamulemye, the coffee learning hub will purposely implement the clause of research and development in the South Western region as earlier amended in the coffee law that was gazetted on 13th September 2021.
It will also include; a laboratory for coffee quality analysis for pre-export certification for cooperatives and export companies operating in the region.
“The coffee learning hub will provide space for research, training and skilling in coffee value chain to students and members of Mbarara University Coffee Club,” says lyamulemye.
Dr Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari, area MP Mbarara City North who also doubles as the National Chairman Entrepreneurs League welcomed the development in his constituency saying that it will be part of employment to the growing youthful population in Mbarara City.
“Comrades, as I mentioned last year. We now want to set up a coffee learning hub at MUST to train our youths as coffee baristas. This is an employment opportunity for the youths as part of industrialization,” says Rukaari.
However, speaking to some of the university staff members who asked for anonymity, they said they were not convinced with the way the top management is awarding the little land they have to the government yet at first the university got it from the government.
“Awarding the university land to government parastatals is madness. How could that happen, the university is congested and we still need more land for expansion,” said a university staff.
“Is the chairman of council equal to the entire council members? Then why doesn’t he consult his fellow council members before making any decision? Another university staff member angrily asked.
When asked about the development, Vice Chancellor Prof Celestine Obua only answered that the university still has much land to support government projects.
“Tell them not to get worried because we still have much unutilized land to develop. Secondly, Mbarara University is a government institution so we are there to complement each other but not to fight one another,” says Obua.
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