agriculture 24 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Iteso Cultural Union Chief Launches Coffee Initiative to Combat Poverty in Tororo
The Paramount Chief of the Iteso Cultural Union, Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot, has initiated a large-scale coffee seedling distribution in Tororo District, aiming to empower the community economically and alleviate poverty. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/iteso-cultural-chief-launches-coffee-drive-to-fight-poverty-in-tororo-5607764
In a significant move towards economic empowerment, His Highness Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng, the Paramount Chief of the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU), has launched an ambitious program to distribute over 50,000 coffee seedlings to farmers in Tororo District.
The initiative, which began with a flagging-off ceremony in Angolol South Village, Mella sub-county, represents a strategic shift for the ICU. Emorimor emphasized that the cultural institution is moving beyond ceremonial roles to focus on tangible economic development for the Iteso people.
“Our people are hardworking but poor. We cannot have fertile land and remain in poverty. Coffee is wealth,” stated Emorimor, urging each household in the Teso region, including Tororo, to cultivate at least half an acre of coffee. He stressed the importance of proper cultivation, forecasting that farmers could see earnings within three years.
The distributed seedlings are of the Robusta variety, known for high yields and drought resistance, making them suitable for the local climate and soil conditions. This partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Operation Wealth Creation aims to diversify local incomes, which have largely depended on maize and cassava.
Local leaders and agricultural officials have expressed optimism about the project’s potential. They highlighted Tororo’s ideal soil for coffee cultivation and anticipated a substantial increase in regional coffee production. The initiative is also seen as a crucial step in addressing poverty, especially given population pressures that affect the viability of traditional food crops requiring larger land areas.
Farmers who received the seedlings, such as Ms. Akongo Caroline, have welcomed the opportunity to improve their livelihoods, seeing coffee as a more stable and potentially more profitable alternative to maize. The distribution is set to continue across various sub-counties in Tororo and the broader Teso region.