Use church land for coffee growing to stop grabbers, says Kaziimba

Anglican Church of Uganda Archbishop Dr Steven Kaziimba Mugalu (C) tours the Inspire Africa Coffee Hub in Rwashamaire, Ntungamo District on January 17, 2025. PHOTO/PEREZ RUMANZI
What you need to know:
- On Friday, the archbishop called on Christians to “embrace coffee farming to steer out of poverty.”
Anglican Church of Uganda Archbishop Dr Steven Kaziimba Mugalu has asked religious leaders to utilize land belonging to religious institutions for economic coffee growing as one way of protection from grabbers.
“I’m speaking as the chairman inter-religious council. We have to use all the available land for growing coffee other than leaving it to grabbers. Put in something instead of looking for its (land) market,” Kaziimba said while preaching during his pastoral visit to South Ankole Diocese, at Kitunga Archdeaconry in Kajara County Ntungao District.
The archbishop’s remarks followed his visit to the Inspire Africa Coffee factory in Rwashamaire Town. The coffee value addition factory is being developed by agripreneur Nelson Tugume with support from government.
On Friday, Kaziimba called on Christians to “embrace coffee farming to steer out of poverty.”
He also used his preaching to urge love and humility as he addressed hundreds of congregants I Ntungamo District.
“God is calling us to be good, let us be good citizens, let us be good politicians. 2025 is the year for politics, but you should not be divided by politics. Even when you do not belong to the same political party, don’t hate each other,” he cautioned.
Dr Kazimba was received in Ntungamo on Thursday afternoon for his three-day first-time pastoral visit to South Ankole Diocese since he assumed office.
Since arrival, he has been encouraging the involvement of women in coffee business saying “whereas much of the production is done by women, mostly men are involved in selling at times marrying an extra wife after a good harvest.”
On his part, Tugume expressed need for partnership with religious institutions that can grow coffee on plantation basis as he cited “enough unutilized land.”
According to Tugume, venturing in commercial agriculture can lift the church out of begging to become a donor.
Additionally, Joint Medical Stores executive director Dr Bildard Baguma noted the key development opportunities in a self-sustainable church saying farming would be the biggest business churches in Uganda could do especially coffee farming.
South Ankole Diocese Bishop Rt Rev Nathan Ahimbisibwe and several church and political leaders accompanied the archbishop on his tours to several parts in the area.