The Katikiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has openly rejected parliament’s decision to scrap off the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), saying it serves as a punishment to the Baganda.

Mayiga’s remarks come after a heated plenary session in Parliament on October 24, 2024, as Members of Parliament (MPs) opposed the Speaker of Parliament’s ruling regarding the rationalization of UCDA.

The bill aims to merge UCDA with the Ministry of Agriculture through the Rationalization of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX) policy.

Mayiga, in a statement made on his X account on October 25, 2024, publicly expressed his concerns about the scrapping of the Uganda UCDA and emphasized that the Kingdom of Buganda has repeatedly warned against the removal of UCDA, which he said plays a key role in overseeing coffee production, a vital source of livelihood for nearly two million Ugandan households.

Mayiga stressed that the potential scrapping of UCDA extremely affects the Baganda, who contribute close to 50% of Uganda’s coffee exports. He pointed out that Speaker Annet Anita Among, along with supporters of the amendment bill advocating for the dissolution of UCDA, view the move as a political victory against the Baganda community.

In his statement, Mayiga called upon Baganda and other Ugandans to continue their coffee farming efforts, warning that their economic welfare should not be sacrificed for short-term political gains.

He pledged that the “Emmwanyi Terimba” Initiative, a project aimed at promoting coffee farming, would continue unrestricted despite the political challenges.

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Mayiga ended his statement with a resolute call to action, urging coffee farmers to remain steadfast and prioritize their livelihoods over political machinations.

“I urge Baganda (and other Ugandans) to continue growing coffee; your livelihood is more important than the motives of present-day politicians,” part of the statement read.

The Katikkiro’s response gives Buganda’s opinion on the debate over the UCDA amendment bill, which has sparked a broader conversation about the relationship between the central government and Buganda, as well as the implications of the bill for Uganda’s vital coffee sector.