By
Emmah Bwayo
Elders and youth leaders from Bugisu convened at the BCU Factory premises on Thursday afternoon to voice opposition to the proposed merger of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) with the Ministry of Agriculture. Demonstrators held placards with messages expressing their disapproval of the plan.
Professor Kiboma Gimuyi, chairperson of the Bugisu Elders Forum, emphasized UCDA’s significant contributions to enhancing coffee quality and strengthening the coffee value chain in Uganda. He cautioned that dissolving UCDA could harm the country’s coffee industry.
Retired Bishop Wabulakha acknowledged certain weaknesses within UCDA but argued that addressing these issues directly would be more effective than merging with the Ministry, which he suggested may lack the capacity to manage coffee-specific matters.
Wilson Lukaye, Mbale City’s male youth councilor, underscored the importance of coffee to young people’s livelihoods in the region. He stressed that UCDA’s role in the coffee value chain is vital and expressed strong opposition to the merger proposal.