On Wednesday, the Ugandan Parliament passed the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024, marking a significant shift in how the coffee sector is managed.
The new legislation dissolves the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and transfers its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF).
Key Amendments and Structural Changes
The National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024, enacts the rationalization of the UCDA, a key institution in Uganda’s coffee sector, responsible for regulating and promoting the country’s coffee industry.
With the bill’s passage, UCDA’s responsibilities will now be managed under MAAIF, aiming to streamline agricultural governance.
This change is part of broader efforts by the government to centralize regulatory functions and improve service delivery across agriculture sectors.
A Chaotic Plenary Session
The session to debate and pass the Bill began at 10 a.m. amidst heightened security in and around Parliament.
Tensions quickly escalated, leading to a chaotic atmosphere that disrupted the session. Despite the turmoil, the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, confirmed that 305 Members of Parliament (MPs) were physically present at the time of the Bill’s passage.
The scene was tense, with significant disagreements among MPs regarding the Bill’s implications.
Suspension of MPs for Misconduct
In an unusual move, Speaker Among suspended 12 MPs due to disruptive behavior during the session.
Among those suspended was Francis Zaake, the MP for Mityana Municipality, who was later taken to the hospital following a physical altercation.
Zaake was reportedly assaulted by Kilak North MP Anthony Akol over a seating dispute. Both MPs, along with 10 others, faced a three-session suspension. The suspended MPs include:
- Wakayima Musoke (Nansana Municipality)
- Aloysius Mukasa (Rubaga South)
- Charles Tebandeke (Bbaale County)
- Isaiah Ssasaga (Budadiri East)
- Asinansi Nyakato (Hoima City)
- Derrick Nyeko (Makindye East)
- Frank Kabuye (Kassanda South)
- Ronald Evan Kanyike (Bukoto East)
- Susan Mugabi (Buvuma Women Representative)
- Shamim Malende (Kampala Women Representative)
Tensions Escalate as Security Steps In
After suspending the MPs, Speaker Among briefly adjourned the plenary session for 15 minutes.
During this interlude, the chamber’s lights were turned off, and plainclothes security personnel entered the premises to remove the suspended MPs.
Journalists were also instructed to vacate the chamber, leading to criticism from media and transparency advocates about the handling of press access during legislative proceedings.
Contentious Debate Resumes in the Afternoon
When the session resumed later in the afternoon, the Bill’s provisions were debated and ultimately passed.
Some MPs called for Speaker Among to step down from presiding over the session, citing a potential conflict of interest.
These appeals were led by Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, who argued that Among’s participation in the proceedings could compromise the neutrality of the legislative process.
Speaker Among Rejects Calls to Step Aside
In response to allegations of conflict of interest, Speaker Among refused to remove herself from the debate.
She argued that parliamentary rules did not apply to her in this context, as the Speaker is not defined as a “Member” who can be subject to conflict-of-interest regulations under Rule 94 of the parliamentary Rules of Procedure.
“A Speaker…is independently defined as the Speaker of Parliament and includes the Deputy Speaker. It is imperative to note that by command of Rule 77, the Speaker shall not be part of the debate, but may give guidance to the House,” said Among.
Addressing Accusations of Tribal Remarks
Amid the controversies, Speaker Among addressed accusations that she made disparaging remarks against the Baganda community during previous debates.
She categorically refused to apologize, stating that she would only consider doing so if evidence of such statements were presented in Parliament.
This decision sparked further debate, as some MPs insisted on her public apology to the Baganda community.
Implications of the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024
The passing of this Bill signals a significant restructuring within Uganda’s coffee industry.
The MAAIF will now assume control over coffee sector management, which is expected to align with Uganda’s overall agricultural policy and may increase government oversight in coffee production, licensing, and trade.
This transition has raised concerns among industry stakeholders and some MPs about potential bureaucratic challenges and the future efficiency of coffee sector governance under MAAIF.
However, proponents argue that centralizing these functions could streamline oversight and bring the coffee sector in line with other agricultural sectors.
The passage of the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024, marks a turning point for Uganda’s coffee sector, even as the circumstances surrounding its passage have highlighted deeper divisions within Parliament.
The removal of UCDA’s regulatory authority and the chaotic parliamentary session have sparked both political and public debate, underscoring the Bill’s complex ramifications for governance and Uganda’s coffee industry.
