President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has revealed the economic coffee growth under the years of his leadership. This was during the state address that happened on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at State House Nakasero in Kampala.
President Museveni said that the economy of Uganda has been growing at a rate of 6.3% for the last 38 years, which has made Uganda a lower middle-income country with a GDP per capita of USD 1,154.
He added that Uganda’s economy was USD 3.9 billion in 1986, but now it stands at USD 55 billion.
“It has been growing at the rate of 6.3% a year for the last 38 years. We are now a lower middle-income country with a GDP per capita of USD 1,154,’’ Museveni said.
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The president further highlighted that coffee has grown from two million bags to now nine million bags since the value addition.
“We are aiming to raise the price per kilogram from $2.5, which is around Shs 9,000, to $25-40, which is between Shs 90,000 and Shs 145,000 per kilogram, thereby boosting income and creating more jobs for all Ugandans,’’ Museveni added.
He also emphasized the government’s commitment to adding value to coffee production to increase revenue for the country.
“The money thus saved will help us to do the important roads we have been trying to tarmac unsuccessfully. These are roads like Myanzi-Kasanda-Bukuya-Kiboga, Luwero-Butalaangwa-Ngoma-Bulyamishenyi,” Museveni said.
He, therefore, thanked the NRM MPs for putting to an end the parasitic agencies and authorities that were consuming so much money, like UNRA, UCDA, and DDA.
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President Museveni added that there are groups that have been misinforming the public about the parasitic agencies that the government is rationalizing, especially coffee, saying that they are a disgrace to the country.
“I feel embarrassed to participate in the controversy over the coffee bill that was going on. How could anybody who wants Uganda to grow spend even one week, let alone the seven years we have spent on this subject, discussing such an obvious issue?’’ Museveni questioned.
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Despite fierce opposition and extensive debates in recent months, the National Coffee Amendment Bill 2024 was approved during the plenary sitting on Wednesday, 6 November 2024.
