Finance Minister, AG defend contentious coffee deal

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiroywa and Finance Minister Matia Kasaija have defended the controversial coffee contract between the Government and the Italian investor that has ruffled feathers since last month.

While appearing before the parliamentary committee on Trade, Tourism and Industry chaired by Mbarara city south MP Mwine Mpaka on Wednesday, 27 April 2022, the Attorney General told the committee that the contract is legal and binding.

“I checked the company’s legal standing and I was convinced that the company has proper legal standings in Uganda and therefore the contract has no breach of any provisions of the law. So I confirm that I carried out a legal due diligence on the company and I am convinced it is in compliance with the provisions and any of the laws,” Kiwanuka said.

His response was triggered by Kalungu West County MP Joseph Ssewungu who demanded the Attorney General’s confirmation that the contract is favourable for the people of Uganda.

On 10 February 2022, minister Kasaija on behalf of Government signed an agreement with Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited (UVCC) owned by an Italian investor, Enrica Pinetti to have exclusive rights to buy Uganda’s coffee for processing on top of several incentives and concessions extended to the same coffee company that among others include; allocation of 27 acres of land at the Industrial Park in Namanve, government to construct an access road linking the plant to the main access road, power transmission to the plant at government’s cost and exemption from all kinds of taxes.

In his statement, Minister of Finance Kasaija allayed MPs’ fears that the contract favours the coffee company at the expense of local farmers. He insisted that the UVCC deal is beneficial to Ugandans.

“This agreement does not deter other potential investors from investing in value addition. UVCC provides an opportunity for the country to fetch better prices for high grade coffee. The company aims to establish several hubs across the country intended to enhance traceability of farmers and to eliminate middlemen,” Kasaija said, adding that UVCC will pay a competitive and market determined price.

Bwamba County MP Richard Gafabusa questioned why Government did not consult widely before signing the controversial coffee contract. He also wondered why there was no termination clause in the contract that was signed with UVCC.

“Enrica acquired the deal to get the land but over the years nothing has been done. Over 10 years have gone by and the deal has just been finalised this year. This makes the previous years null and void. Is there any clause that calls for termination in case the investor fails to deliver?”Gafabusa asked.

Some of the MPs on the Committee on Trade, Tourism and Industry expressed distaste for the coffee agreement.

Amuria Woman MP Suzan Amero was disgruntled with Finance minister for failing to seek the consent of the farmers before signing the deal as it gives away the coffee that they produce and yet they are not given the right to set their own prices.

“Coffee is not a natural resource that is owned by the government. And since the company does not have coffee, our farmers shall also not be party to their agreement because they were not consulted,” Amero said.

The Solicitor General Francis Atoke refuted allegations that he said he had never seen nor heard anything about UVCC. He says that the press comments are exaggerated.

“I cannot do anything without the authorization of the Attorney General. Why would I talk about something I had no consent to talk about? This doesn’t mean that the deal is illegal or wrong in any way,” he said.

The Trade committee is still skeptical about the coffee deal as there are significant documents that are still missing and questionable.

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SOURCE: UGANDA PARLIAMENT MEDIA