President Yoweri Museveni has announced plans to deploy soldiers in villages to safeguard coffee farmers from thieves. Speaking during his end-of-year address yesterday, the President underscored the need for government intervention to curb theft and ensure farmers reap the full benefits of their labor.
Museveni’s remarks were informed by a recent report from a participant at the National Defence College in Njeru, who, during field research, observed individuals drying immature green coffee. Local residents attributed this malpractice to idle youth, often associated with drug abuse, who steal coffee under the cover of darkness.
“This is unacceptable,” Museveni declared. “What are the Resident District Commissioners and police doing? Why aren’t they engaging these youth to redirect their energy toward productive work? If the relevant authorities fail to act, I will deploy the UPDF to support wealth creators, including farmers, by activating our Local Defence Units (LDUs). Thieves won’t stand a chance.”
The President expressed concern over the harvesting of immature coffee, warning that it compromises quality and damages Uganda’s reputation in the global coffee market.
His comments come shortly after signing the National Coffee Amendment Act, 2024, on December 20, which dissolved the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). The law transferred its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), a move that had sparked controversy and division among legislators.
During the legislative debates, chaos erupted in Parliament, with some MPs walking out in protest. Despite this, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) majority passed the law on November 6, 2024. Museveni later accused UCDA officials of resisting reforms and misleading Ugandans about their role in the coffee sector’s success.
“It’s embarrassing to see people caught up in petty controversies instead of focusing on development,” Museveni said during his November 7 address. He criticized UCDA for claiming credit for Uganda’s coffee boom, emphasizing the role of government scientists and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC).
“When OWC took over seed distribution in 2013, coffee production was 2.7 million bags. Today, it stands at nine million bags. This progress is due to the hard work of our scientists and the efforts of OWC, not UCDA,” he said.
Museveni also emphasized the importance of diversifying household incomes beyond coffee. “We cannot rely on one crop alone. Families need a broader base of activities to ensure stability,” he added.
Statistics from UCDA indicate that Uganda exported 6.13 million bags of coffee in the 2023/2024 financial year, generating $1.144 billion. This marked a 6.33% increase in volume and a 35.29% rise in value compared to the previous year, achieving the highest revenue in three decades.
Museveni’s proposed measures aim to sustain this momentum while addressing threats to the sector, including theft and substandard practices. The deployment of soldiers, if realized, will signal the government’s commitment to protecting one of Uganda’s most vital economic resources.
