Coffee bankrolling Kamwenge pensioner
Thanks to coffee farming, he has not only improved his daily livelihood but also transformed the future of his family.
President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Mrs Janet Museveni visiting Kamwenge coffee farmer. (PPU photos)
By New Vision Journalist
Journalists @New Vision
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At 68, Julius Akorinako, a retired district inspector of schools in Kamwenge, is living proof that it is never too late to start over, especially when you follow sound advice.
After retiring in 2017, Akorinako ventured into coffee farming and today, his story is a testimony of resilience and transformation.
“When I retired, I did not know what was next. I was earning little from maize and the returns were discouraging,” he says, “but I remembered what President Yoweri Museveni always told us during his rallies here in Kamwenge: Maize has no money and that if we wanted to get out of poverty, we should venture into coffee, fruits, poultry and others. That message stayed with me,” Akorinako adds.
In 2019, the resident of Lwamugonera cell, Rwenkuba ward, Kahunge town council in Kibale county, Kamwenge, acted on the President’s advice. He started with just two acres of clonal coffee seedlings from a coffee nursery bed. Within two years, he had his first harvest.
“In the first season alone, I earned shillings five million. After deducting expenses, I remained with shillings three million in profit. That was proof that I had made the right choice,” Akorinako adds.
Encouraged by the success, he gradually expanded his coffee plantation to six productive acres. Today, he earns shillings 20 million every four months, an annual net income of 40 million.
“I thank the President for opening my eyes. I advise fellow Ugandans to take his advice seriously. I have seen the results myself and my life has changed,” Akorinako says.
Thanks to coffee farming, he has not only improved his daily livelihood but also transformed the future of his family.
“My children have gone for further studies, some even hold master’s degrees. That would not have been possible without the income from coffee,” Akorinako adds.
His farm employs 20 permanent workers, paying each shillings 200,000 monthly, alongside 60 casual labourers weekly. Beyond coffee, Akorinako grows bananas on four acres; beans and mangoes on one-and-a-half acres and rears 60 goats.
“I have also invested in irrigation to boost productivity during drought. I use a solar power generator for irrigation to cover five acres, especially for the coffee and the bananas,” he says.
Reflecting on his journey from retirement uncertainty to agricultural success, Akorinako believes his story can inspire others. “Retirement is not the end. It is a new beginning. With the right mindset and the right crops, you can thrive,” Akorinako adds.
Kamwenge’s mindset shift
Akorinako narrated his agricultural journey on May 15, 2025, as Museveni started his tour of Toro region, part of the countrywide inspection of the performance of the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme.
On his part, the President lauded the people of Kamwenge district for embracing mindset change and transforming their economic practices by shifting from subsistence farming, especially maize, to more productive ventures like coffee growing.
“Thank you for listening to my advice and now inspiring others,” he said, “when I came here in Kamwenge, people were planting maize, you would find someone tell you they had two acres and were making only shillings 600,000 gross. I asked them don’t you see that is blindness?” Museveni said.
The President emphasised that real poverty is often rooted in ignorance and poor decision-making. Touching on the dangers of land fragmentation, Museveni encouraged Ugandans to adopt modern systems of land management.
He warned that large families living on undivided land without a productive plan risked future suffering.
“Each home has about 10 people. If you do not stop this kind of approach, what will happen to the next generation?” Museveni said.
He praised individuals like Akorinako for embracing irrigation, planting pasture and investing in solar power. To support him further, the President donated shillings 12 million to purchase two more cows and a Fuso truck.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa commended leaders in Kamwenge district for listening to the President’s guidance on enterprise selection and transforming from subsistence farming into commercial agriculture, particularly coffee farming.
Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze, also lauded the President for spearheading the transformation of Kamwenge district, particularly through the promotion of coffee farming, improved infrastructure and strengthened security. He noted that the shift to coffee has paid off significantly, saying: “Six out of every 10 homesteads in Kamwenge now have coffee. Those with large pieces of land still grow some maize, but the majority have transitioned to coffee farming.”
The minister further expressed gratitude for the continued development of infrastructure, particularly the Ibanda–Kabarole Road and the expansion of electricity coverage.
Sylvia Bahireira Tumwekwase (Kamwenge Woman MP) also lauded the President for his prompt intervention during recent security threats and for his continued commitment to the peace and stability of the region. She particularly commended Museveni and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for their quick response during the attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
“Thank you for being there for us when the ADF attacked. You made an immediate response and we are truly grateful. We now enjoy peace,” Tumwekwase said.
Others in attendance were information minister Chris Baryomunsi, who is also the NRM vice-chairperson western Uganda. Others were local leaders and PDM beneficiaries.
First lady lauds Museveni
First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Mrs Janet Museveni, expressed deep gratitude to God for the role the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has played in transforming the lives of Ugandans.
“I thank God for the NRM government and the burden it has carried for a long time to transform the country and to try and see that it uses its money to awaken the lives of Ugandans. This has always been the problem of many African governments — they had not discovered that their role is about improving the lives of the people,” she said.
Mrs Museveni particularly praised the Government’s deliberate outreach efforts to reach ordinary citizens where they live. “Thank you President for taking your time to visit the homes of the people. This is something new in Africa and leaders should adopt it, because it restores hope in the lives of our people,” she said.
The First Lady expressed hope that Uganda will continue on its path to full independence and self-reliance.
“I hope that Uganda will become even better than this and be completely independent, not partially depending on others. I thank God so much and I pray that when people understand what the Government is doing and take up their role to lift themselves and the country, then Uganda will be even better,” she said.
I thank President Museveni for opening my eyes. I advise fellow Ugandans to take his advice seriously. I have seen the results myself.