By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE
Government is set to bolster the operations of Bugisu Cooperative Union (BCU) with coffee value addition equipment to enhance the profitability of farmers and revive the cooperative movement in Eastern Uganda.
While speaking to our reporter this evening, Friday, 11th April, 2025 in an exclusive interview, John Musila the vice Chairperson of BCU revealed that during the Union’s 64th Annual General Meeting in Mbale on Friday last week, State Minister for Cooperatives Fredrick Ngobi Gume revealed plans to procure modern processing machinery for the union to increase its capacity and earnings through value addition, aligning with the PDM initiative.
“As government we are in advanced stages of giving you value addition machines, such that you can be able to compete internationally,” Gume stated.
Musila says that the minister’s announcement comes amid concerns from them as farmers questioning the rationale of setting up a coffee processing plant in Ntungamo district far from the traditional coffee-growing zones in Bugisu and Central.
He says that these machines are going to add value to their coffee and this will improve on the quality and price of coffee.
Nathan Nandala Mafabi stressed the need to scale up operations by investing in a facility capable of producing soluble coffee. He however emphasized that the equipment is not a kind offer.
“Government is not giving us equipment, we shall pay after 10 years,” Nandala clarified.
John Khisa and Sarah Wanambwa all coffee farmers under BCU from Lwakhakha zone expressed their happiness with the information saying this is going to improve on coffee production.
