The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga has taken a swipe at critics whom he said are using the ongoing debate to scrap the Uganda Coffee Development Authority to punish the kingdom.
Reacting to the heated debate in Parliament on Thursday, Mayiga said Buganda is unphased by these schemes.
“Apparently, scrapping UCDA is a punishment against Baganda, who contribute nearly 50% of coffee exports, since Speaker Anita Among (and those who support scrapping UCDA) see the Amendment Bill as a victory against Baganda,” Mayiga said in a post on X.
He insisted that the Emmwanyi Terimba initiative that has seen Buganda encourage people to grow coffee will go unabated.
According to Mayiga, the Kingdom of Buganda has severally advised against scrapping UCDA since it superintends coffee production, upon which nearly 2 million Ugandan households depend.
“I urge Baganda (and other Ugandans) to continue growing coffee: your livelihood is more important than the motives of present day politicians.”
The comments come on the backdrop of a heated debate while parliament discussed the National Coffee Amendment Bill, which seeks to dissolve the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and transfer its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The matter escalated into a heated debate, leading to the adjournment of Parliament, sine die.
