President Museveni has given Buganda Shs413 million to boost the kingdom’s coffee project known as “Mwanyi Terimba”.
Museveni’s donation was delivered by Jane Barekye, the State House Comptroller.
Museveni welcomed Buganda’s interest in coffee, saying such efforts had already been undertaken by the government through operation wealth creation that has already boosted the production of the cash crop from two million bags to 9 million bags.
“Although it (coffee) has other industrial uses, it is not a food like milk or fish. People will also always need food. Therefore, involving our village small scale operations into the food lines is the safest insurance for their prosperity. I therefore strongly advise you to align your message with ours of the 4 acres and seven activities as mentioned above,” he said.
Museveni commended Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga for fighting poverty in the kingdom through promotion of coffee growing.
“I am happy that the Buganda cultural institution has come out to partially support the NRM wealth creation formula that we put forward in 1995 and the NRM manifesto of 1996. We had actually started earlier in the 1960s as a student movement with our efforts to persuade the cattle keepers of the cattle corridor to abandon nomadism and also leave subsistence farming to engage in commercial agriculture with calculation (Ekibalo),” Museveni said.
Mayiga welcomed the financial support by the president and promised continued cooperation.
“I welcome the State House Comptroller Jane Barekye who has come with the President’s message and I would like to extend my gratitude to the President for responding to our call for the support towards our efforts in coffee production. We are happy that the President has appreciated the efforts under “Emwanyi Terimba” Program which has enhanced the livelihoods of the people within the kingdom of Buganda. We appreciate the contribution, and we look forward to better cooperation,” the Katikkiro said.
