The sensitization meeting attracted key players along the coffee value chain
Mukono district officials have rallied players along the Coffee value chain to embrace the National Coffee Act, 2021.
The Act gives UCDA powers to regulate all on-farm and off-farm activities in the coffee value chain.
The Act repealed the UCDA Act, Cap. 325, which was enacted in 1991 and only covered off-farm activities of marketing and processing, leaving on-farm activities like planting materials, nurseries, harvesting and post-harvest handling outside the scope of the law.
During a sensitization engagement organized by Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) on Wednesday at Mukono Resort, Mukono Municipality in Mukono district, Robert Kizito Mugerwa, the Principal Assistant Secretary of the district, who represented the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) described the law as “very important in our lives” and that without it (the), “there would be a problem.”
“Internalize this law. It is accessible. I don’t see a problem with this law. Let’s not look at the law as a problem. It is to our advantage. Embrace this law,” he urged farmers, nursery operators, processors and exporters among other value chain actors, “.”
Mugerwa, however, appealed to UCDA to take the sensitization drive to sub-county levels and involve more Local Council I (LCI) Chairpersons.
“Coffee operations start from the local communities. Scale down this discussion to the sub counties. Invite LCs. You can’t succeed in popularizing this law without engaging the LCs,” he said, looking at the Ag. Board Secretary, UCDA, Eunice Kabibi.
He appealed to farmers to not only grow coffee for export but consume it.
“You can’t grow coffee and not drink it. You don’t produce for others. There must be a secret in this coffee. Drink it,” Mugerwa said.
According to Paul Luyanja Musoke, a Councilor for Namataba, who also doubles as the District Secretary for Production, there is need for farmers to do everything and anything as provided for within the new law.
Luyanja pledged to carry the message containing the new law to his voters on behalf of UCDA. As the planting season nears, Luyanja appealed to UCDA for timely distribution of plantlets to farmers.
The District Internal Security Officer (DISO), Lt. Juma Tamale, who represented the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) said “this law is good. This law is going to regulate the whole coffee value chain and will help us who are in enforcement.”
Lt. Tamale cautioned politicians, who plead on behalf of culprits, arguing that they are first time offenders, calling for their release.
He, however, said that with the law in place, culprits along the coffee value chain will face the wrath of the law. Lt. Tamale appealed to farmers to operate within the law however ‘small’ they think they are.
“Just a piece of salt spoils the whole milk. Don’t say because you are a small scale farmer, then the law doesn’t concern you. Do everything that is within the law,” Lt. Tamale said. With the law in place, Lt. Tamale said fighting coffee thieves will be easy since the law regulates everybody along the value chain.
He also called on the Judiciary to prioritize cases arising from coffee.
“You arrest someone, take them to court with evidence. The case takes one year. The evidence is no longer green. Prioritize these cases so that people see that so and so has been arrested and convicted. We need to style up,” Lt. Tamale said, calling for teamwork while popularizing the Act.
Earlier, a matter of registration and licensing came up. Kabibi clarified that what the districts license is trade (trading license) while UCDA licenses the facility to ensure compliance.
“For that service, you pay a fee. The two licenses are different,” Kabibi clarified.
