By Mary Karugaba and Dedan Kimathi
Parliament has sealed the fate of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) after approving the controversial National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
With a few amendments, the Bill was passed without majority of the Opposition members in the House. The few who remained such as Nandala Mafabi could not do much to save the controversial transfer of UCDA back to the agriculture ministry.
The Opposition lead by the Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi walked out protesting the suspension of their 12 colleagues whom Speaker Anita Among accused of orchestrating the disruption of plenary.
Pandemonium broke out in the House after MP Francis Zaake (Mityana Municipality) aggressively approached MP Anthony Akol (Kilak North, FDC) and forcibly shoved him from his seat near the Speaker.
In response, Akol punched Zaake in the head before being restrained.
To diffuse the chaos, Speaker Among quickly adjourned the House for 30 minutes, retreating to restore order.
When the House resumed, the Speaker, apologised for the events and suspended several MPs.
When the members tried to resist, plain-clothed security officers switched off the lights, entered the Chambers and carried the members out. The move angered the Opposition who immediately walked out.
On return, after suspending the House to allow the suspended members to move out, Among used the absence of the Opposition to adjust the order paper to debate the contentious Coffee Bill debate.
Earlier, Among had declared free seating in Parliament. When the Opposition moved out, their seats were immediately occupied by NRM members, NRM-leaning Independents and a few Opposition members.
Most of the clauses were passed without resistance. Only a few clauses relating to the powers of the minister were amended.
There was an applause when the Speaker declared the Bill passed.
She applauded some of the opposition members who stayed and participated in the discussion.
Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze thanked the Speaker for presiding over the House, the President, the members and Cabinet ministers for supporting and understanding the purpose of the Bill.
He assured Ugandans that the ministry will ensure that the Coffee value chain is developed and exports continue gaining international market.
“Coffee is our premium beverage. We love it not only as a drink but cash crop. I want to assure the farmers and all Ugandans that despite what has been going on, the purpose of rationalization is for the betterment of our farmers,” he said.
