Dr. Emmanuel Iyamulemye (R),the UCDA Managing Director and Stephen Asiimwe, the PSFU CEO after signing the MOC
The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) have today signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) that will see the improvement of coffee production and value addition in the country.
Dr. Emmanuel Iyamulemye, Managing Director UCDA signed on behalf of UCDA while Stephen Asiimwe, the Chief Executive Officer signed on behalf of PSFU.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at Serena Hotel on Monday, Dr. Emmanuel Iyamulemye, the Managing Director at UCDA, said under the MOC, the two institutions will work to establish a mutual cooperation in the coffee sub-sector regarding production, productivity, marketing, policy environment, research and coffee business in the Private Sector of Uganda.
“The specific areas of cooperation will include creation and exchange of information, cooperation on promoting coffee production, processing, domestic consumption and marketing in the private sector in Uganda and its membership,” Iyamulemye said.
Other areas include promotion and improvement in the marketing of coffee, including developing digital marketing platforms, with a view of optimizing efficiency and job creation among the youth; promoting domestic consumption of coffee in the private sector; promotion of coffee tourism and promotion of internationally accepted standards and quality of coffee to enhance its competitiveness.
UCDA will also work with PSFU to influence and lobby areas of mutual interest and pursue legal, regulatory and policy changes in the coffee value chain. The two entities also agreed to raise private sector awareness about the value of coffee to the economy and household livelihood.
Iyamulemye said that Uganda’s coffee is selling at the highest level, revealing that in the last financial year, Uganda exported 6.3 million 60kg bags and fetched the country over $800 million.
He said that one kilogram of coffee fetch up to US$8 if farmers apply good agricultural practices.
Stephen Asiimwe, the PSFU Chief Executive Officer, said that coffee is an ecosystem economy which exists in all the sectors. He said that they want to speak to the subsectors in tourism, transport and the ICT to tap into opportunities that exist along the coffee value chain.
“Coffee is an ecosystem economy in trade and export and taps into all the sectors; all sectors are represented at PSFU… It is also important to note that PSFU is in partnership with twelve coffee companies. The partnership with UCDA is going to basically focus on production, research with the ultimate aim to boost value addition,” he said.
He added that they are working with MasterCard Foundation that is unveiling Sh10Bn to unlock different opportunities towards the youth.
