The Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Joel Ssenyonyi, has launched a nationwide campaign after he expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to rationalize the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and transfer its mandate to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Ssenyonyi made these remarks on November 20, 2024, during an interview with a local radio station, where he cited the government’s history of neglecting agricultural sectors if the government risks merging UCDA with the Ministry of Agriculture.

“This ministry has overseen the destruction of cotton, vanilla, moringa, and sugarcane. Now, they see coffee thriving and want to destroy it too. It’s time for Ugandans to know who their real enemies are,” he said.

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He accused the government of implementing policies that could destroy the coffee industry and not only undermining coffee but also following a pattern of failure in the agricultural sector.

Ssenyonyi further emphasized that the battle was not just in Parliament but with the 12.5 million Ugandans who are part of the coffee value chain before urging farmers across the country to take action and speak out against what they see as harmful policies.

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Several opposition MPs, including Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, the Speaker of the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus, joined in criticizing the government’s approach to merge the Uganda Coffee Development Authority with the Ministry of Agriculture.

Ssenyonyi’s campaign kicked off in Bukomansimbi, Uganda’s top coffee-producing district, on November 19, 2024, where he rallied farmers to keep growing coffee.