
“Similarly, handling the village thieves legally firmly, is good for the villages and also good for those thieves. I recently, got a report from anattendant of the advanced military course at the National Defence College, Njeru, following their field research. In the research, they noticed some People drying green coffee harvested prematurely. When they inquired, they were told by the Wanainchi that nibatangatangana (to compete with some other People as to who would do something first) with the marijuana-smoking youth that idle in the Trading Centres doing nothing and, then, steal People’s coffee at night. What are the RDCs doing? Why do they not engage these youth to direct their efforts towards honest work? How about the Police? If the concerned People do not act, I will involve the UPDF to empower all the wealth creators–farmers, etc–to guard their property by activating the vast militia of our LDUs. It will not be good for those thieves. This harvesting of immature coffee, will affect the quality of our coffee. It is not acceptable” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (31.12.2024).
I know, I know the Police Bonds are the biggest revelation of the Year End Address of Musveni. Nevertheless, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) has addressed that properly and don’t need to repeat the man. Therefore, I am going in on the one that was solidified in silence before the New Years.
As am I writing this in 2025. The UCDA was rationalized and signed the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill of 2024 was signed by the President on the 24th December 2024. When the villagers was back in the villages and the people affected was busy with Christmas schedules. People was busy buying food and drinks for the celebratory day. That’s when he did it and for a reason.
The nation got owners and tenants. The owners are the ones in power and the ones in the inner-circle. That’s why the villagers and farmers just have to accept this fate. This is done to takeover more control of the coffee and he wants to take it further.
Just a mere week after signing the law. His now making the National Army and other Security Organizations to guard the Coffee. That is preparing the total control of the cash-crop. It is showing how he will enforce his will and take it for himself.
The President is spilling the beans here. We have seen how the President decrees and orders the army around. They are involved in civilian matters for years. That’s why civilians are tried in Military Courts. Therefore, this isn’t anything new in the years of power of the President and his party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Museveni has ordered the army to stop illegal fishing and delivering out nets against mosquitoes. The army has even been used to fix potholes and build stadiums. Therefore, there isn’t anything they cannot be micro-managed to do.
However, the army should secure the borders and the national integrity, therefore… is the coffe that important. The coffee is so vital for the economy and for the longevity of his reign. That he needs to guard it with soldiers and people has to follow orders of the high command. This is the gist here…
President Museveni is misusing his office and showing his junta affairs when he decides this is the way to resolve things. Instead of having the police to enforce the laws and securing the farmers. There isn’t incentive or means to an end. That’s why he takes the usage of the military to ensure his ends. It is really tragic that after all these years in power. A man who has been in office since the 1980s and he cannot find better measures to ensure development of the coffee crop. He only knows the guns and think the striking fear is the way of moving forward. This is going backwards into the future and will only make things worse.
Hungry soldiers and LDUs on the fields of coffee won’t make it more safer. Instead it will create more fear and intimidation. The soldiers will misuse this and most likely will extort the farmers. That is the end-game here and it will only hurt the production of the cash crop. This is how these sort of stupid ends. Therefore, the President cannot see this, because he thinks his clever.
Alas, that is the problem… and we can see it coming. Peace.










