Inside Story!! Tactics Used By President Museveni To Pass The Coffee Bill , How Opposition MPs Earned Millions Through Silence

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President Yoweri Museveni successfully pushed through the National Coffee Amendment Bill, which aims to move the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) back under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (Maaif).

This achievement involved a mix of political tactics, negotiations, and pressure.The journey to pass this bill began in 2018 when there was a proposal to streamline government agencies to improve efficiency and save money.

However, in April 2024, lawmakers resisted these changes, particularly opposing the merger of important agencies like UCDA and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (Naads). This marked a significant challenge for President Museveni, who had long supported this restructuring.

The National Coffee Amendment Bill was introduced on March 27, 2024. It quickly became a serious issue as it sought to return UCDA’s responsibilities to Maaif. As opposition grew, Museveni intensified his efforts to get the bill passed.

To overcome resistance, President Museveni focused on isolating dissenting members of his own party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), from other lawmakers. He held several meetings with NRM members to convince them of the benefits of returning UCDA to Maaif.

During a meeting on September 6 at State House Entebbe, he argued that empowering Maaif would improve its ability to manage Uganda’s vital coffee industry.Museveni addressed concerns about civil servants in Maaif by highlighting their past successes in dealing with agricultural issues like armyworms and locusts.

His strategy involved not just persuasion but also reinforcing loyalty among NRM lawmakers.Despite Museveni’s efforts, strong opposition remained. On October 24, a crucial debate on the Coffee Bill was disrupted, leading to chaos in Parliament. The Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, and other lawmakers from coffee-growing regions fought against the merger, questioning the bill’s procedures and effects.

In response to this resistance, Museveni escalated his tactics. He accused opponents of making the issue tribal and expressed doubts about UCDA’s effectiveness. He argued that if these agencies were doing well, many households would not still be outside the money economy.

As November 6 approached—the day set for voting on the bill—security was increased around Parliament. Museveni gathered key Cabinet members to ensure support for the bill. When debate began that day, tensions flared again as opposition members raised concerns.However, Speaker Anita Among was determined to see the bill passed.

After suspending some disruptive lawmakers, she facilitated a vote that ultimately led to the bill’s approval at 1:39 PM. The opposition’s decision to boycott left only NRM legislators in attendance to vote “yes.”Afterwards, Ssenyonyi accused Museveni of intimidating NRM members who had previously supported the opposition.

He stressed that while they may have lost this battle in Parliament, the fight for coffee farmers’ rights would continue.In conclusion, President Museveni’s passage of the National Coffee Amendment Bill shows how political strategy can influence legislative outcomes.

Through isolating dissenters, negotiating with allies, and applying pressure against opponents, he managed to achieve his goal despite significant resistance. The effects of this law will likely impact Uganda’s coffee sector for years to come as stakeholders continue to advocate for their interests amid ongoing political challenges.

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