the Humanist view

His Excellency, the President, would have us believe that the Vinci Coffee Deal is in the interest of our smallholder coffee farmers.

“This is a struggle between the comprador bourgeoisie, the agents of foreign interests, and the local bourgeoisie.” 

President Museveni on push back against Vinci Coffee Deal @ The Independent

Really, how so?

A question the 11th parliament is seemingly attempting to answer retrogressive, if at all; and after the deal is already made.

The deal, it seems, was made without consultation of smallholder farmers, who are the producers of Uganda’s coffee.

That coffee farmers are not on the streets protesting legislation that takes away from them, speaks volumes.

It reveals the insufficient understanding among Ugandans of democratic governance and the obligation of duty bearers to listen to the electorate and not be dismissive of rights holders.

Contrast with Farmers in India

Indian farmers, through well organized sustained protests, are known to have gotten their Parliament to repeal legislation that was passed without them being consulted and which:

“Put their livelihoods and farms at risk and gave private corporations control over the pricing of their crops, which could crush smallholder farmers.”

Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters @ The Guardian Weekly

What will it take for Ugandan Farmers?

What will it take for farmers in Uganda to stop being docile and passive towards legislation and government actions that put their livelihoods and their smallholder farms at risk?

What will it take so that Ugandan farmers can proactively object to legislation that is passed without sufficient consultation with them – you know, like that coffee deal?

According to the most recent Uganda National Household Survey, 72 percent of households in Uganda earn a living from agriculture. Why then is the mention of government subsidies and price regulation frowned upon? Why is that?