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UgandaCoffee Federation
QN:Mzee, if youdon’tmind sharewith
our readers your age, this village and your
coffeestory.
Thank you. My name is JohnTigarebana
79 years old (smiles) I’m the chairman of
Rushozi Kwefahocooperative society here in
Kibutamo village, KabwoheDivision inSheema
Municipality.
I startedplanting coffee in 1958 after visiting
Kampalaand seeing how theBaganda coffee
farmerswere living agood life.
I currently have 4 acres of coffee and still
opening new land formore coffee.
QN: 1958 issuch a long time in coffee, why
have you remained inenterprisewhich
somepeople think isunprofitable for the
farmer.
Also forme this is a smooth story since1958.
I abandonedcoffee for close to 10 years
and returned after oneof mywifegot some
seedlings fromHonKaijuka and also looked
after the abandoned shamba and earnedbig.
This re-energizedme hence the return.
QN:With your return (andwewish you stay)
would younow confidently say this isa
profitable venture.
Coffeegrowingpays. I havedone a lot of
thingswithproceeds from coffee. I have abig
family thereforemy income fromcoffee have
been of great benefit in terms of schools fees,
buildingmy homeswhich I did, and continue
topay fees fromcoffee and other enterprises
like you can seebananasmixed in coffee.
QN:With your long stay in coffee sector,
weare curious tofindout government role
either direct support or extension services
–have you ever been visitedby anofficer of
UgandaCoffeeDevelopmentAuthority.
Government?Whenwe hadCoffeeMarketing
Board thereused tobe officers visiting us and
sensitizingonquality. Theywere very strict
andqualitywas high. But after things changed
(Liberalisation), we havemany buyerswho
buy all coffees. Formegovernment shouldbe
strong incontrollingquality. I producegood
coffee someone elseproduces badquality but
thebuyers don’t mindand they end upmixing.
Specifically, onUCDA I have neither ever
seenanextension officer nor invited for any
workshopby thosepeople. I hear there’s an
office inBushenyi but thosepeople have not
come tomy home. The extensionofficer we
have is theoneof our societymy sonChris.
QN; Government having chosen coffeeas
oneof thestrategiccrops andwith this,
theyhaveavisionof increasingproduction
from4m (60kg) bagsproduced annually to
20Mbagsby theyear 2020. Have youheard
about thisandwhat is your comment?
Uganda is capable of producingmore than
20Mbags. I’m very happy government
has comeback tocoffee. I say comeback
because according tome, there’s away they
had (government) neglectedus.
I heard this onRadio. This is verywelcome.We
shouldproducemore andmorecoffee.
However, mymessage togovernment is to
desist frommaking this visionpolitical. Let
themworkwith farmers especially organized
groups likeus to achieve this. Otherwise
when they distribute seedlings theway they
do to unprepared farmers because of political
lobbying you find seedlings drying in house
sheds. Let them increase farmer engagement
and also lobby to increase farmgateprices
once thepeople see improved livelihoods of
current farmers theywill joinandweproduce
20mbags andmore.
QN:Mzeewhat wouldbeyour lastmessage
toour readers. It canbe toexporters,
consumers,ACPCU, or anyother.
Forme andmymemberswearedeeply
grateful toAnkoleCoffeeProducers
CooperativeUnionLtd. My village societywas
among the10 foundingmembers. I recall we
startedwith0.5mUGx.Wegave 3metric tons
of clean coffee to theunionat the start as a
loan.With this humblebeginningweareproud
to see the turn –aroundwherewenowhave
a strong organizationwithmillions of money,
direct support to usmemberswith extension
services andprompt payment for our coffees.
Important tonote is the employment
opportunities that ACPCUhas provided for our
educated youth. I implore farmers across the
country to stopworking alone. They should
form unions, produce, market andgrow
together.
