RUKIGA, UGANDA – President Museveni has appealed to Ugandan coffee farmers to join the government’s drive to end unprocessed coffee exports, a move aimed at boosting local value addition and accelerating industrial growth.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The President’s message was delivered by the Vice President, Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, during the official launch of the National Coffee Farmers Empowerment Programme in Rukiga district.
The function was held on Wednesday, April 1st, 2026, at Rushebeya Play Ground in Rwamucucu sub-county, drawing a large gathering of farmers and local leaders from across the Kigezi Region.
The programme, which also saw the distribution of thousands of coffee seedlings, is being implemented by Coffpass Growers Uganda Limited, a group operating under activity-based mobilizers coordinated by the State House Local Content Unit.
Delivering the President’s address, Jessica Alupo emphasized that boosting coffee production is a cornerstone of the nation’s industrialization agenda.
She noted that by processing coffee locally before export, Uganda can create wider job opportunities for its citizens and generate greater revenue.
“Adding value to our coffee and minerals is not just an economic strategy; it is a pathway to creating more revenue for the government. This revenue is crucial for funding other critical national projects, including infrastructure development and the delivery of essential services to our people,” the President stated through VP Alupo.
The Head of the State House Local Content Unit, Senior Presidential Advisor Hajjat Aminah Mukalazi, briefed the press on the scope of the new initiative, revealing that the programme is rolling out the distribution of coffee and passion fruit seedlings across the entire country.
She explained that the programme aligns with the President’s message of social-economic transformation, encouraging farmers to shift from subsistence farming to commercial farming in order to sell and earn sustainable incomes.
“This programme is in direct alignment with the President’s message of social-economic transformation. We are encouraging our people to shift from subsistence farming, producing merely to eat, to commercial farming, where they produce to sell and earn a sustainable income,” SPA Hajjat Aminah stated.
Mukalazi further outlined the government’s long-term vision to establish local infrastructure for value addition, aiming to export processed products rather than raw materials to build wealth and create lasting employment.
The project’s coordinator for the Western Region, Niwamanya Isaac, confirmed that over 40,000 coffee seedlings were distributed at the launch event in Kigezi.
He noted that the distribution adds to a previous distribution of 534,000 coffee seedlings and 850,000 passion fruit seedlings across various regions.
Niwamanya further explained that farmers are receiving Robusta elite coffee seedlings, a variety deliberately chosen for its drought-resistant qualities to ensure community transformation through resilient crops.
“This is a deliberate strategy to ensure the transformation of our communities by providing them with resilient crops that can withstand challenging climatic conditions,” Niwamanya explained.
The event was graced by Rukiga’s district leadership, including District Chairperson Mbabazi Robert Kakwerere and the Rukiga Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr. Kamusiime Zadock.
Also present were a host of representatives from the neighboring districts of Kabale, Kanungu, Rubanda, Kisoro, and Rukungiri, underscoring the region-wide significance of the initiative.
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