“You found our coffee sector thriving and killed it,” Bobi Wine asserted, emphasizing that the government’s mismanagement has led to the current struggles faced by coffee farmers. He criticized Museveni’s administration for dismantling essential support structures like the Coffee Marketing Board and cooperative societies that previously aided farmers. Instead of enhancing these institutions, Bobi Wine argued, Museveni opted for privatization, resulting in the loss of valuable assets and leaving farmers to fend for themselves.
Bobi Wine pointed out that the UCDA has consistently operated with minimal funding, relying on a small export levy for years. He lamented that significant investments in the sector only materialized after prolonged neglect, often marred by corruption. “When you give seeds to the wind, you can’t expect them to grow,” he remarked, criticizing how seedlings were distributed ineffectively.
As discussions continue about merging UCDA with the Ministry of Agriculture, Bobi Wine warned that this move could further jeopardize the coffee sector. He labeled the Ministry as ineffective and urged the government to involve stakeholders in decision-making processes. “No Muganda can rise above the Kabaka,” he concluded, stressing the importance of preserving UCDA for the survival of Uganda’s coffee industry.