Low quality coffee impounded in Kasese

Following public outcry of poor quality coffee on the market, police in Kasese in collaboration with Uganda coffee development authority (UCDA) have mounted an operation aimed at apprehending traders dealing in the sell of immature coffee.

What you need to know:

  • The Rwenzori East police spokesperson, Mr Manshur Suwed, confirmed the operation saying they have detained one suspect and impounded his coffee.
  • In August, UCDC drafted a new bill that seeks to preserve the quality and boost coffee growing in the country.

KASESE. Following public outcry of poor quality coffee on the market, police in Kasese in collaboration with Uganda coffee development authority (UCDA) have mounted an operation aimed at apprehending traders dealing in the sell of immature coffee.
In an operation carried out at the weekend, more than 100 bags of coffee were impounded, coffee stores closed and some traders arrested for dealing in poor quality coffee.
The Rwenzori East police spokesperson, Mr Manshur Suwed, confirmed the operation saying they have detained one suspect and impounded his coffee.

“It is true police under the agriculture department are carrying out operation to curb the trade in poor quality coffee,” Mr Suwed said on Wednesday.
Many trucks and pickup vehicles loaded with coffee were seen parked at the police station. However, the police spokesperson said they were still investigating the matter.
Mr John Baluku, one of the traders who was found at the police station, faulted the officials for being money -minded and wanting to fail their business.
“Police officers found me drying coffee at the factory and arrested me saying my coffee was immature. However, the coffee is not immature as they claim but they detained me because I was not in position to give them money,” Mr Baluku said.
Mr Baluku said he decided to dry his coffee using a processing machine because thieves had started harvesting it from the gardens.
The UCDA officials involved in the operation refused to comment saying the operation was still ongoing and that the media may contempt the move.

However, Mr Peter Bwambale who claimed that one of his stores was closed criticised police for accepting bribes from the offenders. He said the practice is rendering the whole operation exercise meaningless.
“This is not an operation; it is carried out for officers to get school fees and nothing else. When you refuse to give in money, you are taken to courts of law. We need some changes in the officers who carry out operations otherwise we shall suffer double losses,” Mr Bwambale said.
When contacted over the allegations, the Rwenzori east police public relations officer could neither deny nor confirm the allegations saying that he does not go to the field and has not received any complaints.

In 2014, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority suspended coffee processing in Busoga, citing improper handling practices by the farmers. It was reported that most farmers in the area were harvesting green coffee berries, and drying them on bare ground, which resulted into sub-standard coffee.
In August, UCDC drafted a new bill that seeks to preserve the quality and boost coffee growing in the country.
Currently, coffee trade is governed under the Coffee Regulation 1994 and Coffee Development Authority statute 1991.