By Aggrey Buluba
In a fiery declaration that could brew a political storm, the chairman of the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus, Honorable Muwanga Kivumbi, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Butambala County, has vowed, “over his dead body,” to prevent the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) from being transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Kivumbi, in his characteristic outspoken manner, has dismissed the Ministry of Agriculture as a “bedridden institution, already in ICU,” citing its poor performance and inefficiencies. “Every other project under that ministry is not performing above 35%. How do you hand a performing sector over to such a bedridden ministry?” Kivumbi challenged, raising eyebrows and sparking debates across the nation.
This controversy stems from a recent proposal by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who aims to streamline government operations by merging several ministries and organizations. The president’s strategy is to cut down on taxpayer expenses while enhancing the efficiency and monitoring of these entities. However, the proposal has encountered resistance from Kivumbi and other members of parliament, who fear that moving UCDA to the Ministry of Agriculture could compromise the coffee sector’s progress.
Uganda’s coffee industry is one of the few economic sectors showing steady growth, contributing significantly to the national economy and earning Uganda its place as Africa’s leading coffee exporter. Critics of the proposed merger, like Kivumbi, argue that transferring the UCDA to an already struggling ministry could spell disaster for one of Uganda’s most vital industries.
The debate has stirred up a heated political atmosphere, with citizens and stakeholders alike watching closely to see how this battle over Uganda’s favorite bean will unfold. Will the government succeed in its efforts to save taxpayer money through consolidation, or will Honorable Kivumbi’s fiery opposition preserve the UCDA’s independence? Only time, and perhaps a few more impassioned speeches will tell.
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