Museveni Decries Tribalism In Coffee Debate – CoffeeTalk

ICT and National Guidance minister Chris Baryomunsi has stated that rationalising the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) will not harm the coffee sub-sector. He stated that the UCDA will be transferred to the ministry of agriculture as a unit, and its functions will remain. Baryomunsi also emphasized that the gains in the coffee sector are not solely due to UCDA, but rather other efforts.

President Yoweri Museveni condemned the tribal talk in the parliamentary debate on the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024, stating that it is not to abolish UCDA’s functions but to have their functions executed in the department of coffee development extensions at the ministry. No employee of UCDA whose competency is required in the regulation will be laid off.

Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze, who sponsored the bill, said that the policy behind the proposed law is to give effect to the Government Policy for Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure, which was adopted by the Cabinet on February 22, 2021. He said that the bill will relieve the government of the financial drain on its resources and the burden of wasteful administration and expenditure on the UCDA, while allowing the agriculture ministry to perform functions with less cost and expenditure.

Tumwebaze also emphasized that the bill will facilitate efficient service delivery by clearly delineating the mandates and functions of the agriculture ministry in relation to other government agencies and departments, avoiding duplication of mandates and functions.

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