District authorities in Mubende district have vowed to crack down on farmers who harvest young coffee beans in a bid to uphold the “Emwanyi Terimba” coffee project initiated by Katikiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga. This initiative aims to enhance the quantity and quality of coffee cultivation in Mubende district.
Mubende Municipality Mayor, Ssalongo Innocent Sekiziyivu, spoke to journalists on May 7, 2024, emphasizing the need for these operations.
He explained that the crackdown would commence in May 2024 as farmers have already begun harvesting young coffee beans. This premature harvest has resulted in a significant decline in both the quality and quantity of coffee produced in Mubende, as compared to previous years when the coffee industry thrived.
Mayor Sekiziyivu further expressed concerns over the plummeting prices of coffee in the region. In the past, a kilogram of coffee beans commanded a price range of UG.X. 6,000 to UG.X. 7,000. However, due to the recent rise in the harvest of immature coffee beans by farmers in Mubende, prices have fallen, exacerbating the issue of market scarcity for the region’s coffee.
Highlighting the negative impact of mishandled and prematurely harvested crops, Mayor Sekiziyivu drew a parallel with the challenges faced by Uganda’s maize industry. He expressed confidence that the crackdown on those degrading the coffee market in Mubende would yield positive results, thus countering opposition to the new measures.
Mayor Sekiziyivu issued a strong warning to those engaged in such activities, cautioning that they would face appropriate legal consequences upon arrest and subsequent court proceedings. At the same time, he called upon coffee farmers to refrain from harvesting young coffee beans, stressing the necessity of Uganda’s coffee market to expand globally.
The “Emwanyi Terimba” campaign was launched in 2016 under the Buganda Kingdom, led by Katikiro Mayiga. This partnership with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and the Buganda Cultural and Development Foundation (BUCADEF) aimed to boost coffee cultivation in the Buganda Region. The UCDA provided seedlings, while BUCADEF offered technical knowledge in support of the campaign. The primary objective of the initiative is to empower Central Buganda farmers, enabling them to overcome poverty by embracing coffee farming and improving their standard of living.
Katikiro Mayiga proudly announced that the campaign has been well-received, resulting in a 35% increase in coffee production. Furthermore, the Buganda region now contributes 30% of Uganda’s total coffee exports.
The official launch of the 2024 Emwanyi Terimba initiative took place in Buweekula, specifically in Mutuba 1 Kitenga Sub-County. During the launch, the Katikiro visited coffee farmers and urged the community to actively participate in the Emwanyi Terimba initiative, encouraging cooperative efforts to further advance the coffee industry in the region.
