Mugabe R
Mr. Ahimbisibwe Wilberforce Ongom, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC) of Rukungiri, urged coffee farmers to prioritize quality over quantity.
He made this statement on Friday, April 5th, 2024, during his address at the 57th Annual General Meeting of the Kigezi Growers Co-operative Union. The event was attended by society chairpersons and delegates at Kagogo in the Western Division of Rukungiri Municipality.
Ongom stressed the importance of modernization and encouraged coffee farmers to invest in manageable gardens aimed at producing high-quality coffee for discerning markets. He also urged members to engage the younger generation in sustainable coffee growing and market networking efforts.
Kamanzi Ferdinand, the Rukungiri District Commercial Officer, commended the Union for its recovery from a loss of over 7 million in 2022 to a profitable position last year. However, he noted insufficient support from member societies responsible for supplying coffee to the Union. He called for strong mobilization efforts to collect coffee and enhance market competitiveness through training and benchmarking.
Mr. Kamugisha Danson from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) clarified that the Kigezi Growers Co-operative Union has the potential to meet regional coffee collection requirements. He announced that the UCDA would conduct a national coffee census in January 2025 to ensure compliance with international market standards.
Mugisha Didas, the Chairperson of the Kigezi Growers Co-operative Union Board in Kagogo, appealed to the government to settle the Union’s balance of War Debt Compensation, which amounts to over 6 billion. This payment would bolster operations, including acquiring modern hullers, improving transportation infrastructure, and providing capital for coffee purchases.
Twinomujuni Wednesday, the Treasurer of the Kigezi Growers Co-operative Union, expressed gratitude, stating that the Union remains steadfast in its development efforts. He highlighted the Union’s recognition as the 4th most transparent Union in the country by the Operation Wealth Creation state office.
Asiimwe Lovence, a coffee farmer from Nyakishenyi, praised the Kigezi Growers Co-operative Union for promoting both the quality and quantity of coffee through its advisory services, input provisions, and capital assistance.
