national 4 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Government Launches Coffee and Cocoa Drive to Eradicate Poverty in Bukedi
Uganda's government is pushing coffee and cocoa farming in the Bukedi sub-region to replace subsistence crops and boost household incomes amid high poverty rates. The initiative, launched by Vice President Jessica Alupo, targets raising 80 million seedlings over five years under the National Kibaalo campaign. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-bets-on-coffee-cocoa-to-lift-bukedi-out-of-poverty-5447166
The Ugandan government has ramped up promotion of coffee and cocoa in Bukedi, a sub-region spanning districts like Pallisa, Budaka, Butebo, Kibuku, Butaleja, Tororo, and Busia. These cash crops are seen as vital to combating poverty driven by low-yield subsistence farming of cassava, millet, and sorghum, compounded by climate issues and poor market links.
Vice President Jessica Alupo, representing President Museveni, launched a five-year campaign at Kamonkoli playground to produce 80 million seedlings. Museveni emphasized shifting to commercial agriculture, noting the global demand and stable markets for coffee and cocoa as pathways to reliable incomes.
The program includes seedling distribution, farmer training, enhanced extension services, and adoption of modern practices like irrigation and pest management. Museveni called for treating farming as a business and boosting local coffee consumption.
Iki-Iki County MP-elect Swaibu Abdu Kampanya praised the effort but stressed Bukedi’s status as Uganda’s second-poorest region after Karamoja, urging priority development. Agriculture Ministry’s Coffee Production Commissioner Reuben Keimusya confirmed the area’s suitable soils and climate, positioning the crops to buffer against shocks and reduce food crop dependency.
Bukedi Leaders Forum’s Yona Oboth highlighted coffee’s role in Uganda’s exports, contributing 17-20% of foreign exchange and supporting 20% of the population’s income. The strategy falls under the Bukedi Sub-region Accelerated Wealth Creation Plan (2024–2040), aiming for Shs 30 million annual household incomes by 2040.
This article is based on a report from the Daily Monitor.