Minister of Agriculture Vincent Sempijja

A government operation to close coffee factories and arrest a group of people behind the harmful coffee harvesting practices is soon extending to most parts of the country.

The operation which was first conducted in greater Masaka districts oversaw the closure of many coffee factories which were found processing wet coffee and has now closed to more than two months.

Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Vincent Sempijja, while justifying the closure of some of the coffee factories in the greater Masaka districts said that the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) acted basing on the deteriorating quality of coffee produced in the region.

Sempijja said that the operation against the harmful coffee harvesting practices is following a directive the President issued in September 2011, to arrest farmers and traders who buy wet coffee for spoiling the country’s international market.

Processed Uganda coffee beans

He said this practice negatively affects coffee quality and compromises incomes to farmers and the nation.

Sempijja said those who were arrested as coffee processors failed to adhere to the coffee standards put in place.

“If harmful coffee harvesting practices are not stopped, it will pose a serious danger to Uganda coffee competitiveness on global market and health of Ugandans and consumers abroad,” adding that; “I assure members of Parliament that this is a routine activity across the country and  all regions will be reached in an effort to standardize good coffee stakeholders and in the nation,” he said.