The Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga has rallied coffee farmers across the country to embrace the registration exercise that was introduced by the Government.
He disclosed this at the Kingdom’s main seat at Bulange-Mengo where officials from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) led by the Director Development Services, Dr. Gerald Kyalo paid a courtesy visit to brief him about the new developments in the coffee sector.
Kyalo notified the Katikkiro about the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) that was passed by the EU Parliament, which prohibits growing coffee in formerly forested land, and bans such coffee products from the EU market by December 31st 2024.
Dr. Kyalo said to effect this, UCDA will register all coffee stakeholders in the country including farmers in order to trace all coffee plantations using the Global Positioning System.
In response, the Katikkiro pledged to collaborate with the Government through UCDA to sensitize coffee farmers on the new legislation on coffee.
He further reminded the farmers that the registration is not intended to over tax them but to ensure that their coffee products are not barred from the EU market.
Katikkiro Mayiga also commented on the Government’s plan to merge UCDA with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) come 2027, saying this will be the biggest mistake ever taken by the NRM Government since it came to power.
He says UCDA engages many coffee farmers with different interests on the coffee product which he feels MAAIF may not be able to fulfill this mandate.
By Olivia Nabaggala
6th Sept 2024
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