Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga has said the country needs to slow down on value addition in the coffee sector because that is not where our competitive advantage is.
Mayiga, while addressing the Lukiiko, said Uganda’s raw coffee is loved globally because of its unique aroma; therefore, processing it into powder form may not be the best idea for now.
“Our raw coffee has a unique aroma, and that’s where our advantage is,” Mayiga said.
Mayiga’s stance contradicts that of President Museveni and other people who have argued that the country needs to add value to its coffee to boost earnings. The president has often said Uganda loses billions of shillings by exporting unprocessed coffee.
In 2024, Uganda earned approximately $1.55 billion (Shs5.6 trillion) from coffee exports, according to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
Businessman Nelson Tugume has tapped into the coffee value addition craze by setting up a processing plant in Ntungamo with the support of billions of shillings of taxpayers’ money.
Mayiga said farmers in Buganda need to use the tractors given to them by the Kabaka to promote coffee growing, which will uplift their livelihoods and develop the kingdom.
He called upon coffee farmers to avoid using fake agro fertilizers that will affect their output.
Yesterday, the Lukiiko passed seven resolutions: it commended the Kabaka for making 70, it lauded Mayiga’s 12-year tenure as Katikkiro, appreciated Kabaka for donating tractors to each county, it eulogised William Matovu, a dedicated Kabaka official, and appreciated Greenpulse for its agriculture fertilizers that have enhanced production in Buganda.
