On March 27, 2024, the first reading was made in parliament with an Act to enact the National Coffee Act 2021. Act 17 of 2021 aims to dissolve the Coffee Development Authority and transfer its functions to the Ministry responsible for agriculture. This change aligns with the government policy on the rationalization of government agencies and public expenditures.

The second reading of the coffee bill will be discussed in today’s plenary session amidst all the controversies surrounding the amendment. 

The parasitic nature of these agencies and authorities promoted waste and parasitism. The 2016/2017 public resource spending figures showed that agencies and authorities were taking UGX 2.2 trillion and the ministries UGX 2.6 trillion with duplication of responsibilities. The conducted survey indicated that agencies like UCDA were corrupt and wasteful, with officers awarding themselves contracts, supplying poor-quality, overpriced materials, and not delivering on time.

Baryomunsi pledges that the government will continue educating the public, even when Parliament has concluded the debate, so that Ugandans out there can appreciate, contrary to the lies and falsehoods that have been spewed out the last few days.

In an equitable society, everyone should have equal access to these government institutions to allow equal competition but to also limit interference with these institutions.

Putting in mind the above scenarios with undisputed data from reliable sources and the voices of the coffee farmers who they claim to be fighting for, after meeting Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga, they shared that UCDA has not been of help to them as coffee farmers and that they should be left to embrace the president’s decision of rationalization.

The NUP second cohort is open for all members, and applications are still ongoing. Among the students who were awarded certificates, the majority were female and were in three categories: foot soldiers, professionals, and community leaders.