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Minister Tumwebaze Slams Politicization of National Coffee Amendment Bill 2024

07 November, 2024
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The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, has criticized politicians, particularly those from the opposition, for politicizing the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill 2024 instead of focusing on the government’s good intentions.


He urged coffee farmers and dealers to trust the government's objectives, especially in cutting down expenditures through the merging of agencies.

On Wednesday, Parliament passed the Bill, which effectively dissolved the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). However, the passage of the Bill, which reshapes the country’s coffee regulatory framework, occurred amid heightened tensions, chaos, and a walkout by some opposition members, led by their leader in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi.

Tumwebaze said that the politicians opposing the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill have spread falsehoods to intentionally anger the public, particularly coffee farmers, and use this as a tool to gain political mileage. He noted that it is unfortunate that some leaders, who know the truth about merging these agencies, choose to speak against the Bill for political gain ahead of the 2026 elections. Tumwebaze assured coffee farmers and dealers that the ministry would work to strengthen the coffee sector. 

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