Kampala, (UG):- The Parliament of Uganda has vehemently denied tribal remarks targeting the Baganda purportedly made by Speaker Anita Among during Thursday’s heated debate on the contentious National Coffee Amendment Bill 2024.
In a media statement released Friday, October 25, Parliament’s Director of Communication, Mr Chris Obore described as ‘fake’ and ‘edited’, a video claiming the Speaker was mobilising against the Buganda Caucus MPs who were opposed to the proposed legislation.
“The video does not capture what she said fully and some people are attempting to complete her sentences based on their own biases. That characterisation is rejected as a poor attempt at using artificial intelligence to score political goals,” Obore said in a statement which went viral on Friday evening.
He further explained that “A section of Hon. Members of Parliament had alleged that the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is ‘poison served by government to the people of Buganda’.”
However, Obore explains that the Speaker instead urged Hon. Members not to attach tribal sentiments to the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and cited other areas like Bugisu where coffee is the main cash crop, therefore, the Bill should not be seen as targeting a specific region.
‘The Speaker didn’t mention any words like “make sure that those Baganda don’t get the numbers”, her statement was that, ‘make sure that this issue is not tribalised,’” “Those who could have followed the proceedings of the house will realize the Rt Hon Speaker gave an opportunity to majority Members most of whom were from Buganda.”
The controversial Bill aims to merge Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) with the Ministry of Agriculture through the Rationalization of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX) policy.
The primary goal of RAPEX is to merge, mainstream, and rationalize various government agencies, commissions, and authorities to reduce redundancy, eliminate duplication, and optimize public expenditure.
However, MPs, majorly from Buganda opposed the scrapping of UCDA, saying that it has over the years outperformed its mother Ministry by helping farmers and increasing coffee exports.
Katikkiro Mayiga speaks out
Relatedly, the Katikkiro of Buganda Kingdom, Owek Charles Peter Mayiga earlier on Friday cautioned against dissolving UCDA, saying it would amount to punishing Baganda.
“The Kingdom of Buganda has severally advised against scrapping UCDA since it superintends coffee production, upon which nearly 2 million Ugandan households depend,” said Mayiga in a brief statement on Friday afternoon.
“Apparently, scrapping UCDA is a punishment against Baganda, who contribute nearly 50% of coffee exports, since Speaker Anita Among (and those who support scrapping UCDA) see the Amendment Bill as a victory against Baganda!” Mayiga emphasized.
Buganda Kingdom has been spearheading massive coffee growing in the central region under the campaign, ‘Emmwanyi Terimba Initiative’ He added; “‘Emmwanyi Terimba Initiative’ will go on unabated… I urge Baganda (and other Ugandans) to continue growing coffee: your livelihood is more important than the motives of present-day politicians.”
Members of Parliament from the Buganda and Bugisu regions recently issued stern warnings against any attempt to dissolve UCDA, stating that such a move would have disastrous consequences for Uganda’s coffee industry and affect the livelihoods of over 12.5 million people.
Speaking to NRM MPs recently, President Museveni said returning government agencies to their parent ministries was meant to streamline operations by eliminating the unnecessary ones. “If you say Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) is so crucial, then let’s remove the ministry and then we have UCDA and I could see the MPs really getting stuck,” said Museveni.
The President further said he did not agree to the argument that ministries are incapable of managing the huge task ahead because their staff are permanent and pensionable, adding that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) who are also permanent and pensionable are doing well.
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