
The recent drama surrounding Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) is telling, as the status of the organization and the legality of it is in question. Just like the trouble of leaving the International Coffee Agreement (ICA) in 2022. This is a continuation of that, just like the monopoly plans of Pinetti to have a Coffee Processing Plant. It is just another in the matter.
The cash crop that was introduced and has held certain chokehold in the Republic. As it has given the Republic foreign exchange and also a surplus for its production. The coffee crop has been beneficial and been an asset. That’s why the Coffee Marketing Board (CMB) was involved and ensured a large part of the export in the past. The UCDA was supposed to takeover and centralize it even further. This happened after the liberalization and the new policy reforms of early 1990s.
That’s why it is interesting in 2024 that this is such a hot commodity. That the need for restructure and changes are that eminent. As if there is no other way around it. It is just a hurry to fix the cup and ensure the sale of coffee is over. That’s the gist here. The black gold has to be traded and done in a haste.
The NRM that dissolved the CMB and created the UCDA. Now it is planning to end the UCDA and it’s by all means painful. The Ministry of Agriculture won’t be ready or have an idea of how this is run. That will be another priority in a string of things, which will be hectic, useless and a bureaucratic mess… that’s ironic as this is done to steamroll and ensure better results. At least that is the excuse and that UCDA isn’t up to scratch as it is.
None of this is shocking, as the beast is roaring against itself. This is the bureaucracy that the NRM has created and thrived on. Now it is trying to reform itself and without any sort of certainty. Only big questions remains and a lack of oversight. Just a hurry to end paper tigers and not explain why your doing it. Meanwhile the duplicities of the state and the lack of proper planning is why we are here.
The own creation and makings is why the NRM are here in 2024. The lack of showing a clear pattern or an idea of the future. That’s why the whole UCDA saga seems like a heist and a planned effort to enrich a few chosen few. Instead of being a solid government policy or even well meaning change of an government entity. It is instead looked as a cash-grab and enrichment project of the upper-echelon of the food chain. That’s why people are crying out loud and rightfully so.
The UCDA is just showing the mistrust and lack of good governance. That’s why we are here and seemingly by default into more trouble. There is a need for proper procedure and a way of using cash-crops, by giving fair prices to farmers and ensure their longevity of their works. However, this seems more like a devious scheme to dissolve and give a mandate to a Ministry that isn’t ready to run it. Not like the CMB became UCDA and now they are getting another one to run in its stead. No, it seems like a final goodbye.
A goodbye and an end that someone will profit on and use the power to control the exports of it. That’s why people are horrified, and they know how the State House and others entangle themselves into these things. They dwell into the material and find ways to eat.
This robusta is far from over. The reality here is that the crux of the matter is who earns what and where. That’s the gist here. The beans will be spilled, and the truth will come to light. The NRM wouldn’t reform or act in this manner. If there wasn’t some sort of financial benefit for someone in association with the State House or the inner circle of power. That’s the motivation of this. It isn’t for the betterment of the farmers or the ones producing the coffee. No, they are blindsided regardless and only a pawn for the master’s on top. Therefore, time will tell… time will tell. Peace.












