Madi-Okollo MP Joanne Okia backs UCDA dissolution, citing benefits for coffee cultivation
Madi-Okollo Woman MP Joanne Okia (NRM) has voiced her support for the dissolution of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). The National Coffee (Amendment) Bill 2024 aims to abolish the UCDA and integrate its functions into the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
Despite controversy surrounding the decision, with some Buganda MPs alleging it seeks to economically undermine their region, Okia dismissed these claims in an interview. “The question of why the people of Northern Uganda are not supportive of the rationalization of UCDA doesn’t arise because this was a government position, not one solely from Northern Uganda,” she stated, referencing a recent caucus meeting with President Museveni in Entebbe.
Okia argued that the extensive reach of the agriculture ministry will enhance coffee cultivation—an advantage not realized under UCDA’s oversight. “There’s a misconception that dissolving UCDA means coffee will disappear. That is a lie and propaganda. Even in areas UCDA hasn’t reached, we are growing coffee, thanks to the Parish Development Model (PDM),” she countered.
She also criticized UCDA’s past negligence, highlighting failures to sign crucial contracts for direct exports, which forced Uganda to rely on middlemen. “What about the negligence of UCDA? They failed to sign contracts that would allow us to export directly to importers abroad,” she lamented.
Jackson Atima Lee Buti (Arua Central) remarked that despite the significant benefits of the recent public sector reforms, some individuals sought to politicize the issue, which he found deeply unfortunate.
“It (rationalization) was a general thing, and it was not the position (4:09) of members of parliament from Northern Uganda. (4:12) It was a position of government. (4:15) Remember, we were for caucus with Mzee in Entebbe,” Atima noted.
“Why should UCDA be treated in a special way? How is it unique? If UNRA, that has been doing a lot of road works in the country, can be rationalized. If other authorities can be rationalized, what’s special with the coffee agency? In my view, executive and government is looking at efficiency, service delivery to the people, saving tax payer’s money. From the results of this rationalization, it is realized that we will be able to save over UGX1trillion which would have been wasted,” he added.
He emphasized that integrating UCDA activities into the parent ministry is expected to boost coffee cultivation. Given its profitability, Atima believes people will ultimately abandon less lucrative crops in favor of coffee.
“The previous government did not give coffee as an enterprise that can be grown in the whole country. That’s why you find in Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja, people were not bothered or given that opportunity. I think somebody misadvised Ugandans to say this region must handle this crop. That’s why you find especially West Nile was handling tobacco while other regions were handling coffee,” he explained.
Figures
Uganda is currently one of Africa’s top coffee exporters with revenue earnings rising from US $883.3 million to US $952.24 million from November 2021 to October 2022. Uganda recorded its highest coffee exports of 6.26 million tonnes of 60-kg bags in 2O21/2O22 from 5.83 million tonnes of 60kg bags in 2020/21 fiscal year.
Deducing from the majority report which was tabled by Agnes Linda Auma (Lira District Woman MP), the body in the last fiscal year was allocated UGX44.756 billion while it contributed UGX2.253 billion to the national Treasury.
Government of Uganda has committed itself to achieving a target of producing 20 million-60kg bags of coffee by 2030 as per the Coffee Roadmap. So far, UCDA has distributed 545,475,098 coffee seedlings during the last five years, benefiting 937,605 farmers.
This is likely to increase production from the current 8.16 million 60-kg bags in 2022/2023 to 13.7 million 60-kg bags in 2026/2027 as the country looks towards achieving the Coffee Roadmap. END
