President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni met and held discussions with coffee stakeholders at State House, Entebbe in Wakiso district on Wednesday.
The group included coffee farmers, traders and processors.
Museveni said Uganda should never sell its raw materials without adding value to them, arguing that doing otherwise is donating jobs to other countries.
“Uganda should produce from the garden to the table. However, in the case of coffee, it is being produced from the garden to Kampala, which must stop,” he told the meeting.
Museveni urged coffee stakeholders to join Government effort’s effort in building an independent, integrated and self-sufficient economy.
“Before we came to power, we wrote a 10-point programme. Point number five was about building an economy, which is independent, integrated and self-sufficient.
“When it comes to coffee, from the beginning, I said we should add value to our products and it is still our stand.”
The President gave reference to products such as milk and textile, which have seen value added to them to the last product.
“Milk is now covered. We have processed milk and its by-products. The milk line has moved. Textile is also moving,” he said.
“In every sector, the struggle to get full value addition on our products is on.”
‘Share ideas’
Robert Kabushenga, the coffee stakeholders’ co-ordinator, delivered the group’s presentation.
He said coffee farmers, traders and processors want Government to support them build a factory that will add value to the coffee.
“We are here to get advice from you and to share ideas. Our aim is to ask Government to support our local indigenous companies to add value on our coffee”, said the former Vision Group chief executive.
Kabushenga said that the group is fully in support of the President’s vision on coffee.
“We would like to assure you that we are 100 percent behind you. We want to put a solid coffee plant in Uganda.”
The Director Uganda Vinci Coffee Company, Ahmed Sultan, attended the meeting and assured stakeholders of their company’s full support.
“We are here to work together and trade with you and increase productivity,” he said.
The meeting, attended by finance minister Matia Kasaija, Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka and other top government officials, agreed that stakeholders meet and come up with proposals to government.
