BUDAKA — Vice President Jessica Alupo, together with leaders from the Bukedi Sub-region, has launched a major campaign aimed at boosting coffee and cocoa production as part of efforts to fight poverty and transform livelihoods.
The initiative, dubbed the National Kibaalo Concepts Awareness Campaign, seeks to raise 80 million coffee and cocoa seedlings through multiplication and distribution to farmers across the region.
Speaking during the launch in Budaka District, Alupo said increased production would stimulate industrial growth and job creation.
“When you produce millions of bags of coffee and cocoa, it means we shall need factories and industries here to process them for export markets. This will create thousands of jobs that will benefit our people,” she said while representing President Yoweri Museveni.
She called on the Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen support systems for farmers, emphasizing proper handling of crops from planting to harvest.
“Be helpful to us as we introduce crops of high value to our economy. They should be preserved from the time of planting up to harvest,” she added.
Alupo expressed confidence that the initiative would accelerate industrialization, increase household incomes, and position Bukedi as a key agricultural hub.
The campaign comes amid findings by the Ministry of Agriculture indicating that Bukedi’s soils are highly fertile and suitable for coffee production.
Reflecting on Africa’s economic history, Alupo noted that traditional societies were productive but largely operated under barter trade systems before transitioning into a money economy.
She highlighted Uganda’s economic evolution, pointing to past reliance on key export commodities such as coffee, cotton, tea, tobacco, copper, and tourism.
Alupo said government efforts since 1986 have focused on economic recovery, diversification, and expansion of productive sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT.
“As a result, the economy has grown from USD 1.5 billion in 1986 to about USD 61 billion today,” she noted, adding that greater value addition could push it to USD 500 billion.
To support the initiative, leaders also launched the annual Bukedi Coffee Run, aimed at raising funds for seedling production and farmer support.
Tororo County North MP-elect Nicholas Owino described the campaign as a significant step toward economic transformation in the region.
Bukedi Leaders Forum Coordinator Jona Oboth said the run will be held annually for the next ten years to sustain the initiative.
“The run will be organized every year to ensure continuous support for farmers and expansion of coffee and cocoa production,” he said.
Coffee currently contributes nearly 20 percent of Uganda’s export earnings, and leaders believe that with sustained efforts, Bukedi can emerge as a major contributor to the country’s agricultural growth.
