Nandala promises one million coffee seedlings to Serere farmers

SERERE - Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate James Nathan Nandala Mafabi has pledged to supply one million coffee seedlings to residents of Serere district as part of efforts to boost household incomes and strengthen commercial agriculture.

Addressing residents on his 68th day on the campaign trail, Nandala, who is also a coffee farmer, said he understands the economic value of coffee and how the crop has transformed livelihoods in Bugisu.

He told the people of Serere that the same transformation is achievable if they embrace coffee growing.

Addressing residents on his 68th day on the campaign trail, Nandala, who is also a coffee farmer, said he understands the economic value of coffee and how the crop has transformed livelihoods in Bugisu. (All Photos by Alfred Ochwo)

“We did not move with the seedlings here, but we are going to bring them. I am not giving them out as a candidate but as a farmer who knows their value and how the people of Bugisu have benefited. I am going to give the chairman one million coffee seedlings to you," Nandala said at Ongiji trading centre in Atiira subcounty, where he received a warm reception from farmers and local leaders. 

His visit came 40 days before Ugandans heads to the polls to choose their next leader.

He was accompanied by his wife, Flora Nandala, a daughter of the Teso sub-region, as well as FDC’s Serere Woman MP flag-bearer, Deborah Akiteng, and Serere County MP flag-bearer, Stephen Ochola.

The leadership team said the pledge marks the beginning of a long-term agricultural plan for the sub-region.

They said the district continues to face multiple challenges, including poor road and health infrastructure, limited market access, persistent crop pests, transport difficulties, weak public service delivery characterised by corruption and chronic drug shortages, and mismanagement of government programmes such as the Parish Development Model.

They also noted rising social problems such as teenage pregnancy, which have fuelled frustration and calls for better governance and essential services.

Nandala promised to integrate Teso more deeply into profitable agricultural ventures, saying coffee growing can lift thousands out of poverty if properly managed.

During his tour of the district, he addressed residents of Ongiji, Okoboi, Serere Upper Shops, Ikona Iyaredi and Awoja trading centres, encouraging them to adopt high-value crops and demanding accountability from leaders.

He also spoke about reviving cotton production, a crop once central to Teso’s economy, and pledged additional support for small-scale traders and fishing communities.

He argued that improving agricultural productivity must go hand-in-hand with infrastructure development, including better roads and a stable electricity supply, to ensure that farmers benefit from their labour.

According to him, improved social services such as healthcare and education, as well as financial support for the elderly of sh60000 for every adult person from 65 years, are essential components of the FDC’s broader development vision.

Residents used the rallies to raise concerns that they said have long been ignored by leaders. Patrick Amou asked Nandala to prioritise security and job creation, arguing that unemployment has pushed young men into violence and theft.

He said several murder cases remain unresolved, creating fear among families.

Serere Woman MP aspirant Deborah Akiteng called for better access to clean and safe water.

She told the crowd that 80 per cent of Serere’s population drinks unsafe water and that many people walk more than two miles to the nearest borehole. She warned that water scarcity has become a major health threat in the district.

Serere County MP aspirant Stephen Ochola urged urgent improvements to the district’s road network. He said the poor state of roads has affected trade, emergency response and access to social services, and he pledged to lobby for upgrades if elected.

Meanwhile, sorghum wholesaler Olot Jorem appealed for electricity to be extended to rural communities, saying the power supply abruptly stops in the main town, leaving 85 per cent of the district without electricity.

He said government surveyed the area in 2021 and promised power lines, but five years later no project has been implemented.

Serere district remains a competitive political battleground for both the opposition and the ruling National Resistance Movement. According to Electoral Commission results, the NRM's President Yoweri Museveni won the 2021 presidential vote in Serere with 38,555 votes, followed by the FDC’s Patrick Oboi Amuriat with 26,722 votes.

The district’s four parliamentary seats were split evenly between two Independents and two NRM candidates.

Nandala will on Saturday (December 6). campaign in Bukedea and Kumi districts.