MBLE, Uganda — Coffee industry stakeholders met in Mbale City on Thursday for a critical discussion on the Coffee National Registration Campaign, with leaders and farmers voicing concerns over the process’s slow progress and its potential impact on their livelihoods.
The event, held at Rosewood Hotel, saw 165 participants, including officials from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), district leaders, coffee farmers, and various coffee stakeholders. Among the attendees were leaders from the districts of Bukomansimbi, Kalangala, Masaka, and Rakai.
Beth Katami, Deputy Chairperson of Mbale District, opened the meeting by emphasizing the importance of the campaign and the need for dialogue to clear up confusion surrounding the registration process. Katami noted the District Council had already approved a motion to allocate land to UCDA for offices dedicated to quality assurance, showing the council’s commitment to supporting the coffee sector.
“However, given the recent concerns raised by stakeholders, we must hear from UCDA to better understand their perspective,” Katami said. She reiterated support from District Chairperson Mohammed Mafabi, who has praised the UCDA’s work in providing high-quality coffee stems to local farmers.
Robert Nangastya, Head of Extension Services at UCDA, provided an overview of the registration campaign and its link to the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). He explained that the regulation requires all coffee producers to show they meet sustainability and traceability standards, with implications for Uganda’s coffee exports, which heavily depend on the EU market.
“The goal is to ensure that Ugandan coffee can continue to access premium markets, especially in Europe,” Nangastya said. He stressed the need for accurate data collection from farmers, which is central to the registration process. He also highlighted the role of technology, such as GPS and satellite imagery, in tracking coffee from farm to market.
Despite the positive outlook, many attendees expressed concerns over the pace of the registration process. Some farmers voiced fears about potential taxation and the complexity of the registration procedure. There was also frustration over the involvement of local leaders, particularly LC1 officials, who have not been adequately facilitated to help with the process.
Isaac Chepkurui, UCDA Regional Manager for Elgon, emphasized the need for district leaders to engage with farmers to clarify the registration’s importance and the potential consequences of non-compliance. He warned that failure to register could result in exclusion from key markets.
Local leaders, including RDCs from Mbale, Namisindwa, and Bulambuli districts, pledged their full support for the registration process. Patience Nambozo, Assistant RDC for Mbale City, encouraged farmers to embrace the registration process, highlighting its role in ensuring that Uganda’s coffee industry remains competitive globally.
However, there were also concerns about the delay in the registration process and its impact on farmers. Many questioned why the process had been so slow and why more had not been done to speed it up. Farmers were also worried about the accuracy of data being collected and whether their privacy would be protected.
“We need to ensure that all farmers are aware of the process and its benefits, but also that the process is transparent and free from political influence,” said Luzze Abdul, Assistant RDC for Bulambuli.
The UCDA addressed these concerns, assuring stakeholders that it was committed to resolving the issues and improving the process. Nangastya pledged continued support from UCDA and MAAIF to ensure successful registration and emphasized the importance of transparency and collaboration among all stakeholders.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue working closely with local leaders to support farmers and ensure the timely completion of the registration process, which aims to register 1.8 million coffee farming households across Uganda
