Police in Mateete Town Council, Ssembabule District, have fired tear gas and bullets in the air to disperse coffee milling machine owners, traders, and farmers who have been protesting against the closure of their milling machines for three days now.

The incident, which occurred on July 3, 2024, followed the closure of coffee milling machines by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) for breaching quality assurance regulations.

The protesters blocked Mateete-Sembabule Road and threw stones at vehicles, damaging many.

According to the protestors, UCDA officials closed 11 of their 12 mills located in the Mateete industrial area, specifically regarding coffee bean storage and drying practices.

The Officer in Charge of Mateete Police Station, ASP Abdu Mudebo, then responded by firing tear gas and gunshots in the air to disperse the crowd that had gotten out of order.

He urged protestors to avoid night demonstrations for their safety because bullets can catch any of the protestors and kill them.

Kasumba John, a protestor interviewed by Nexus Media, voiced concerns about how the closure of the mills will impact the livelihoods of many, adding that the act leaves machine owners financially vulnerable and many other people who depend on coffee.

‘’These issues could be addressed through dialogue rather than resorting to drastic measures,’’ Kasumba said.

The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) is a government agency mandated to “regulate, promote, and oversee the quality of coffee along the entire value chain, support research and development, promote production, and improve the marketing of coffee in order to optimize foreign exchange earnings for the country.