Why gov’t injected Shs60 billion to promote coffee growing in northern Uganda

What the report says

The Independent Uganda reports that the Ministry of Agriculture has defended a 60 billion shilling allocation for expanding coffee farming in northern Uganda, describing it as an affirmative action measure. The explanation was given by Collins Amanya, the ministry’s Assistant Commissioner for Planning, during ongoing negotiations in Kampala between central government and local government representatives on financing and grants for agriculture and agro-industrialisation.

According to the report, the money is being used to provide coffee seedlings and support the spread of coffee production in a region that has not traditionally been a major coffee-growing area. Amanya said between 23 million and 25 million seedlings have already been distributed and planted. He also said the government is considering additional support such as irrigation and other farm inputs, alongside efforts linked to long-term national production targets under NDP4.

Amanya also argued that local governments need more funding for extension services, soil testing and technical support to farmers, saying implementation depends heavily on districts because they work closest to producers. He raised concerns about dry spells and the cost of irrigation, while noting that government is looking at ways to reduce farmers’ co-funding burden without removing their contribution entirely.

The report also quotes Frederick Kisakye, a district production officer from Mubende, who said coffee remains a major export and that northern Uganda has land suited to the crop. He called for subsidies on seedlings, fertilisers and pesticides, and for grant formulas to better reflect hard-to-reach, island and mountainous districts.