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UgandaCoffee Federation
fully established laboratories.
“Wenow have a fully-fledged
coffee research institute
unlike several years ago
when coffee researchwas
amalgamatedwith other
crops,”Mr. Ngabirano says,
highlighting that the tissue
culture lab at the research
institute inKituuza is being
upgraded to thehighest
international standard.
This, he said, has allowed
commercialisation of coffee to
deepenaswell as attract the
elite intocoffee farming.
Becauseof this, now
Ugandan coffee is occupying
shelf space in theUS, Europe
andFar East as a single
origin. Mr. Ngabirano leaves
happy tonote that Uganda
was selected as aglobal
Centreof RobustaExcellence
for quality andprocessing
systems and standards.
“I shouldalso include
development of a coffee
drinking culture, by promoting
micro roasting, café lifestyle
andespressobased
beverages like cappuccinos,
latte andmany otherswe see
beingcraftedby young and
highly professional baristas,”
he says.
According toMr. Ngabirano,
government appreciates
thepotential for coffee to
transform the rural incomes
and it is not surprising to see
coffeebeing amajor player in
theOperationWealthCreation
programme for liftingUganda
into amiddle-incomecountry
by 2020. Because of this,
government has increased
funding for coffee.
Challenges
According to him, thebiggest
challenge at production
level has beendiseases and
pests that come as outbreaks
emanating fromunfavorable
andunpredictableweather
systems.
“Lowproductivity, price
volatility and unequal
distribution of revenue
generated fromcoffeeare
huge issues for us aswell
as other coffeeproducing
countries,” he shared.
Theother challenge has
been the sustainability of a
coffeegrower whocontinues
tobe uncertain in viewof the
emerging issues inmarket
demands, which seem to
always addcosts for the
farmer. Incase of Uganda,
also inadequate extension
services and absenceof
favourable financing continue
to limit growthof the coffee
industry.
UCDAstatus
Mr. Ngabirano is contented
that as he retires he leaves
UCDA in apositionhewanted
it tobe - agreat authority.
“UCDAprovides an
opportunity tomeet amazing
peopleboth in the country
andabroad. It is aplace I
will always cherish. I gained
considerable knowledge
about coffee andmany other
cultures,” he remembers.
He is happy tohavemade
incredible contacts and
friends that will forever impact
his life as hedescribes
his teammates incredibly
supportive; and the coffee
drink affectionately addictive.
Lessons
He shares that the lesson
he is goingawaywith is
that authority andpower are
meaninglesswithout respect
for people.
“Onebig lesson formewas,
if you humble yourself you
will beappreciated andget
things done. In institutions
likeUCDA, youcomeacross
all elements of behaviour
in society including those
that don’t do the right things
unknowingly or deliberately,”
henotes.
He says his lesson has been
that inwhatever case, you
have to stand up for the truth
even if it is hurting. That way
one shouldbe able to stay
upright. Beinghumble and
having respect for everyone
including those, he evendid
not agreewith seemed to
work for him. This, he says, is
another great lesson hewill
live tocherish.
Appeal
Mr. Ngabirano says he is not
retiring fromcoffee. “I am
only changing frompublic to
private service and I am sure
it will bequiteenjoyable.”
He appeals to themedia in
all forms topopularisecoffee
growing anddrinking. In
addition, asksUgandans to
drinkmore coffeebecause
therearegreat healthbenefits
in onedrinking three to five
cups every day.
What others say about his
legacy at UCDA
Mr. GideonBadagawa, the
executivedirector Private
Sector FoundationUganda,
says:
“I have knownHenry
Ngabirano for the last 15
years. I was privileged to
workwith himondifferent
projectswith theWorldBank.
He has been instrumental in
developing coffee strategies
and regulationof standards.
He has playedhis part and
he is ahighly technical
