The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Joel Ssenyonyi, has initiated a nationwide campaign opposing the government’s decision to dissolve the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and transfer its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Speaking on November 20, 2024, during a radio interview, Ssenyonyi criticized the move, arguing that it could undermine Uganda’s coffee sector, which is vital to the livelihoods of millions of Ugandans. He accused the government of a pattern of mismanagement in the agricultural sector, citing the decline of other crops such as cotton, sugarcane, and vanilla.

“The Ministry of Agriculture has a poor track record. Now they want to dismantle UCDA and jeopardize the progress of our coffee industry. Ugandans must recognize who is harming their economic prospects,” Ssenyonyi remarked.

He urged the 12.5 million Ugandans involved in the coffee industry to resist the proposed changes, warning that such policies could damage one of the country’s most successful agricultural sectors.

Ssenyonyi officially launched the campaign on November 19, 2024, in Bukomansimbi, one of Uganda’s leading coffee-producing districts. He encouraged farmers to continue cultivating coffee and to voice their concerns over the government’s plans.

The campaign has garnered support from other opposition members, including Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, the Speaker of the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus, who also condemned the proposed merger.

The debate around the UCDA Bill has sparked widespread concern, with critics arguing that transferring the authority’s mandate to the Ministry of Agriculture could hinder the coffee sector’s growth and sustainability.