KAMULI, UGANDA – Ssabalangira wa Busoga Kingdom, Mr. Moses Woira Mitala Kitimbo, who oversees the three Kingdom Counties of Bugabula, Budiope, and Buzaaya, has urged coffee farmers in Kamuli District to embrace the ongoing coffee registration exercise.
Speaking during a regional stakeholders engagement held at the Kamuli Youth Centre on September 16, 2024, the kingdom official who as the guest of honor emphasized the benefits of registration in improving the quality and traceability of their produce.
The registration drive, aimed at ensuring that all coffee farmers in the country are registered and their produce tracked, is part of efforts to boost the quality and competitiveness of Ugandan coffee on the international market.
Mr. Kitimbo dispelled rumors that the coffee registration exercise is linked to taxes, assuring farmers that the process is designed to benefit them. “Please embrace this process because it’s for your own benefit. Government needs to know you so they can plan for you better,” he said.
Mr. Kitimbo also warned farmers against harvesting unripe beans, which could compromise the quality of Ugandan coffee on the international market. He emphasized the importance of maintaining high-quality coffee beans to ensure that farmers receive better prices for their produce.
Over 400 coffee farmers and representatives of coffee farmers’ organizations were in attadance to learn about the importance of coffee registration ahead of the upcoming registration exercise.
Some of the farmers that turned up for the exercise.
CAO Kamuli, Badru Ssentongo, commended UCDA and the Kamuli Coffee Development Farmers Association for their efforts in engaging with local farmers. He emphasized the need for farmers to get involved in the registration process, which will address quality concerns and help Uganda dominate international markets due to its unique coffee aroma.
Michael Baguma, UCDA extension worker for Kamuli and Buyende said the meeting sought to sensitize farmers about the benefits of registration, which is crucial for maintaining access to the European Union (EU) market. The EU is the largest consumer of Ugandan coffee, with most of the country’s coffee exports destined for the EU.
Israel Ssebugenyi, UCDA facilitator emphasized that coffee registration is not pegged on taxes but rather intended to secure markets for farmers and ensure traceability.
The registration process, which is free for farmers, will involve capturing GPS locations of every farm and providing farmers with unique codes to ensure traceability,” he said.
He warned farmers that Uganda has less than four months to comply with the EUDR regulations, noting that failure to register would result in losing 70% of the market share and a drastic fall in coffee prices.
He announced to Kamuli farmers that the registration exercise will be conducted by a private company, Pula, on behalf of UCDA. He also urged farmers to cooperate with the registration process and become ambassadors to ensure compliance.
District Natural Resources Officer, Robert Isabirye, highlighted the importance of deforestation-free coffee in Uganda’s efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.
He urged farmers to adopt sustainable coffee production practices to ensure the long-term viability of the sector.
Zubair Mukaya a coffee farmer in Nangodo wondered whether the registration process would be accessible to all farmers, especially those in remote areas with limited access to technology and resources. He also wondered how the GPS location tracking would work, given the varying sizes and locations of coffee farms in the region.
“I’m interested in registering my coffee farm, but I’m not sure how this process will work for me,” Mukaya said. “Will the registration team come to my farm, or do I need to go to them? And how will they ensure that my farm is accurately tracked and recorded?”
Mukaya’s concerns were echoed by other farmers in attendance, who also sought clarification on the registration process and its benefits. UCDA officials assured them that the registration process would be accessible and free, and that teams would be sent to farms to conduct the registration and GPS tracking.
The meeting was attended by over 400 coffee farmers and representatives of coffee farmers’ organizations from Kisozi, Namasagali, and surrounding villages.