Buganda Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga has taken a swipe at government over the controversial coffee processing agreement with Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited, a private company to market and export Uganda’s coffee.
He was speaking during the Easter Sunday service at Lubaga Cathedral.
Government recently signed a deal with Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited to establish a coffee processing plant at Namanve industrial park where Italian businesswoman Enrica Pinetti signed on behalf of the company.
A number of people, especially stakeholders have since blasted government for not consulting them before such an undertaking.
Katikkiro Mayiga said in 2016, the Mengo establishment moved to encourage the subjects of the Kabaka to grow more coffee under a program named EmwanyiTerimba.
He said because of this program, coffee production in Buganda has gone up by 35% whereas the country’s coffee exports too have gone up and to this, Buganda accounts for more than 30%.
He noted that developments in the coffee sector in the recent years make him think some people want to force Ugandans out of the coffee business.
Last week, the Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary, Ramathan Ggoobi defended the controversial coffee agreement that he said will benefit the country.
