In a recent talk on NBS Television’s Morning Breeze, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga voiced strong concerns about the government’s plans for the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
He asked, “What is the government really doing? What problems are we trying to fix?” Mpuuga emphasized that the government has not been clear about its intentions, and this lack of honesty has made the situation more confusing.
He pointed out that the idea of cutting costs no longer holds water. “Are we going to keep the UCDA staff and then cut their pay? That’s not right,” he stated, reminding everyone that laws should benefit the people, not harm them. “All power belongs to the people,” he said, adding that any policy not serving the public interest should be tossed aside.
Mpuuga acknowledged that while the government has restructured other agencies, UCDA is different. He called on President Museveni to soften his tone and think carefully about his statements regarding coffee, as these can affect public trust.
“Coffee has been with us since before independence,” Mpuuga noted. “Even when the government failed, coffee kept many communities alive.” He stressed that coffee is not just a crop; it has deep social and economic roots in Uganda, so it needs to be handled with care.
Responding to claims that he has abandoned the coffee debate, Mpuuga reminded everyone that as the Leader of the Opposition, he had previously stopped a controversial deal involving Pinetti. “If we weigh what Museveni has done in 40 years, we might find that other governments could have done better,” he said, pointing out that there has been a lot of waste and mistakes.
As the saying goes, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” Mpuuga believes that the government must take care of what it already has, especially when it comes to something as vital as coffee.
The current impasse over the proposal to scrap UCDA is a good justification to our call to reorganise the country’s administrative structure.
Our call is for Devolution of power; decongest the centre by establishing regional governments (provinces).
With devolved powers, each… pic.twitter.com/j9ZJdkdOQk
— Mathias Mpuuga (@MathiasMpuuga) October 30, 2024
