Museveni stings Bwanika at State House meet

The MPs elected to support all the 16 rationalization bills, with only the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and National Information and Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) accorded a special extension of 3 years as transition periods.

Read: Uganda starts registration for all 2million coffee farmers per new EU law

MPs had initially rejected the merging of some of the agencies including UCDA, UNRA and NITA-U.

But in a caucus meeting, Museveni made a case for the merger of all the agencies to their mother ministries as a measure to make Government leaner and avoid duplication,

The government hopes to save over Shs 1tillion annually with these mergers.

Bwanika slammed

During his presentation, Museveni attacked the MPs, accusing them of opposing the mergers for their own selfish reasons.

He singled out the Kimanya-Kabonera MP Abed Bwanika whom he accused of trying to use UCDA for his political survival.

“You have heard Abed Bwanika that he wants the coffee from UCDA for his own campaign. He wants to give it to his own supporters at the expense of other people,” Museveni charged.

Earlier during the ruling party caucus meeting, Bwanika, a member of the Opposition NUP had made a case for UCDA to remain autonomous.

He argued that the coffee industry is growing at a fast pace and cannot be managed efficiently by the Ministry of Agriculture, which he accused of being lazy and corrupt.

Museveni however, put his foot on the ground, compelling the MPs to agree to the merger of all agencies.

Only UCDA and NITA will be allowed special extension of 3 years as transition periods.