Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga
The European Parliament passed a law prohibiting the purchase of coffee and other crops cultivated on land that was previously forested. This law is set to take effect on December 31, 2024.
The primary motivation behind this legislation is the desire to protect the environment upon which we all depend. Europeans do not want forests to be cut down or trees felled so that people can plant coffee or any other crops.
This law directly affects us because Europeans purchase 60% of the coffee we grow in Uganda. Currently, coffee has significantly improved the lives of many people—children are attending school, people have access to healthcare, and they are enjoying better living conditions. However, if they stop buying coffee from Uganda, prices will drop, and livelihoods will become challenging again.
Therefore, it's essential for us to understand that anyone cultivating coffee should not do so on land that was once forested. They will be monitoring using satellites to determine the origin of the coffee and whether it comes from former forest land.
At this juncture, I want to inform coffee farmers in Buganda and Uganda that the farmer registration being discussed is not intended to impose taxes on you or to find out how much coffee you produce. It is not meant to complicate or hinder farmers. The registration we are talking about aims to ensure that our coffee is not banned from entering Europe.
We initiated the Mwanyi Terimba campaign because we want people to earn an income and have a good quality of life. We do not benefit directly from the coffee; it is the farmers who profit. Therefore, we are telling you now that the registration being discussed poses no danger.
Once again, I want to assure coffee farmers in Buganda and Uganda that the farmer registration is not about taxing you or determining your coffee yield. It is not about making things difficult for farmers. Our goal with this registration is to ensure that our coffee continues to access European markets.
We launched the Mwanyi Terimba initiative out of a desire for people to have an income and lead good lives. We do not profit from the coffee ourselves; it is the farmers who benefit. We assure you that the registration being discussed is not harmful. — Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga