(Kampala) – Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze has addressed and dismissed claims made by National Unity Platform (NUP) party leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, about Uganda’s national coffee policy. Speaking on Tuesday, November 5, Tumwebaze refuted allegations posted by Kyagulanyi and his party on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), asserting that these statements misrepresented the role of the UCDA in the creation of the coffee policy.
The policy in question, approved by the Ugandan Cabinet in August 2013, was developed to provide guidelines for enhancing the coffee sub sector. Its objectives include improving coffee production, processing, roasting, and marketing across Uganda, aiming to make Uganda a prominent coffee exporter.
Tumwebaze, who is himself a coffee farmer from Kamwenge district, clarified that the policy was solely introduced by the government, not UCDA. He emphasized that the responsibility for creating and implementing national policies rests with the government, while UCDA and other agencies function to execute these policies once established. “A policy is introduced by the Government. Policy-making is a function of the government in power,” he asserted.
Kyagulanyi’s post on X argued that despite government endorsement of the coffee policy in 2017, financial support has not matched the needs of the sector, highlighting recent budget cuts impacting UCDA’s operations. “Since 2019, UCDA has faced budget cuts. How can [President] Museveni then claim to be committed to the sector?” Kyagulanyi questioned in a statement, expressing doubts over the government’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s coffee industry.
In response, Tumwebaze rebuked these claims, urging the opposition leader to be more factual and consistent in statements about government operations. According to Tumwebaze, the government created the coffee roadmap in 2017 as a part of its comprehensive strategy to elevate Uganda’s coffee value chain. He said, “The gains in the sector have not been accidental but rather are the result of a well designed strategy.” He noted that the coffee roadmap includes mass distribution of coffee seedlings, which has been instrumental in achieving sector growth.
When a follower on X argued that policies could be developed at different levels, Tumwebaze explained that a national government policy differs fundamentally from policies at other levels. “A government policy is distinct from an agency’s operational guidelines,” he stated, underscoring that framing the coffee roadmap as UCDA’s independent policy was misleading.
The minister further highlighted that agriculture accounts for 54% of Uganda’s exports, spanning a range of products including fish, vegetables, dairy, poultry, and chilies. He pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) manages these exports and oversees crop and livestock disease control, despite financial constraints.
To strengthen the coffee policy’s implementation, UCDA, alongside stakeholders, developed the first five-year National Coffee Strategy (2015/16-2019/20). This strategy aligned with the broader Agricultural Sector Strategic Plan (2015/16-2019/20) and Uganda’s National Development Plan (NDP) II. Responding to a directive from President Museveni to scale up coffee production from 3.5 million bags to 20 million bags, UCDA created a coffee roadmap in 2017 to expand and support the national coffee strategy.
In March 2024, Tumwebaze introduced the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in Parliament. This bill, which has sparked debate, aims to streamline and integrate UCDA’s functions within the Ministry of Agriculture to help reduce public spending. According to Tumwebaze, this structural change is intended to make operations more efficient and to maximize the benefits of Uganda’s coffee sector.
According to UCDA, coffee remains a vital component of Uganda’s economy, contributing around 14% of the nation’s export earnings on average over the past decade. This sector continues to provide livelihoods for many Ugandans and significantly boosts Uganda’s foreign exchange reserves.
Table: Uganda’s Major Agricultural Exports and Their Share in Total Exports
| Product | Export Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 14% |
| Fish | 8% |
| Vegetables | 6% |
| Dairy Products | 5% |
| Poultry | 4% |
| Chilies | 3% |
The government maintains that its strategies, including the ongoing adjustments to UCDA’s structure, are designed to foster growth in the coffee industry and secure Uganda’s place as a key global player in coffee exports.
