Kasese coffee smugglers face arrest
Aug 07, 2008
THE Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) has warned traders in Kasese district against smuggling coffee from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
By Columbus Tusiime
THE Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) has warned traders in Kasese district against smuggling coffee from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Coffee from Congo is of poor quality compared to that in Uganda,†said Jimmy Baluku, the UCDA Kasese coordinator.
Over 200 tonnes of coffee are smuggled from Congo into Uganda every harvest season, which begins in September and ends in January.
Baluku said the smugglers use Kashenyi landing site on Lake Edward at night.
He added that the Ugandan culprits would be prosecuted, while the Congolese were free to sell the crop on the Ugandan market after the crop is scrutinised.
Alex Kambale, a coffee trader, said coffee from Congo was cheaper than that of Uganda.
“Sometimes, the coffee is impounded by Congolese authorities,†Kambale added.
Rwenzori region is one of the areas that produce quality coffee.
The price of a kilogramme of coffee has been hiked from sh2,300 to sh2,900. The district earns sh20b each harvest season.
THE Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) has warned traders in Kasese district against smuggling coffee from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Coffee from Congo is of poor quality compared to that in Uganda,†said Jimmy Baluku, the UCDA Kasese coordinator.
Over 200 tonnes of coffee are smuggled from Congo into Uganda every harvest season, which begins in September and ends in January.
Baluku said the smugglers use Kashenyi landing site on Lake Edward at night.
He added that the Ugandan culprits would be prosecuted, while the Congolese were free to sell the crop on the Ugandan market after the crop is scrutinised.
Alex Kambale, a coffee trader, said coffee from Congo was cheaper than that of Uganda.
“Sometimes, the coffee is impounded by Congolese authorities,†Kambale added.
Rwenzori region is one of the areas that produce quality coffee.
The price of a kilogramme of coffee has been hiked from sh2,300 to sh2,900. The district earns sh20b each harvest season.