Bushenyi coffee factories closed
Jul 10, 2007
THE Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) has temporarily closed all coffee processing factories in Bushenyi district because of the rampant processing of wet coffee.
By Chris Ahimbisibwe
THE Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) has temporarily closed all coffee processing factories in Bushenyi district because of the rampant processing of wet coffee.
The weeklong operation was led by the UCDA’s principal development officer, Apollo Kamugisha, who said the image and quality of Uganda’s coffee had been affected by both the farmers and the coffee dealers.
“This operation was aimed at cracking down illegal malpractices in the coffee industry so that we can restore the image and quality of Uganda’s coffee.â€
He identified the closed factories as Kanyamatambara, Rwentuha, Bushenyi, New Ishaka, Ankole, Igara, Nuwabiine, Kasana, Kitagata, Kabwohe and Kyagalanyi Coffee Store in Ishaka town.
“There is no coffee processing in Bushenyi district. If there is anybody doing it, it is illegally,†Kamugisha noted.
He said: “We told the processors not to get wet coffee because the farmers’ have to sell dry coffee but they failed to heed. They do not give the farmers time to dry their coffee.â€
However, the coffee dealers pleaded with UCDA to let them process the coffee they have in the stores to enable them pay back the loans they are using to operate.
Kamugisha said the factory owners welcomed the intervention, saying wet coffee destroys their machines.
THE Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) has temporarily closed all coffee processing factories in Bushenyi district because of the rampant processing of wet coffee.
The weeklong operation was led by the UCDA’s principal development officer, Apollo Kamugisha, who said the image and quality of Uganda’s coffee had been affected by both the farmers and the coffee dealers.
“This operation was aimed at cracking down illegal malpractices in the coffee industry so that we can restore the image and quality of Uganda’s coffee.â€
He identified the closed factories as Kanyamatambara, Rwentuha, Bushenyi, New Ishaka, Ankole, Igara, Nuwabiine, Kasana, Kitagata, Kabwohe and Kyagalanyi Coffee Store in Ishaka town.
“There is no coffee processing in Bushenyi district. If there is anybody doing it, it is illegally,†Kamugisha noted.
He said: “We told the processors not to get wet coffee because the farmers’ have to sell dry coffee but they failed to heed. They do not give the farmers time to dry their coffee.â€
However, the coffee dealers pleaded with UCDA to let them process the coffee they have in the stores to enable them pay back the loans they are using to operate.
Kamugisha said the factory owners welcomed the intervention, saying wet coffee destroys their machines.