President Museveni has directed the Agriculture Ministry to draft new regulations to improve tea production and quality in Uganda, aiming to protect the sector from unstable international prices and boost its profitability.
President Yoweri Museveni has called on the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to draft comprehensive regulations for Uganda’s tea sector, aiming to stabilize prices and improve quality for international markets. Speaking at a meeting with tea growers, nursery operators, and processors in Bushenyi District, Museveni emphasized proper cultivation practices and urged stakeholders to provide input on whether tea should be treated as a high-value crop under intensive farming.
The President highlighted that careful regulation of both tea growers and buyers is essential to ensure good-quality produce reaches the market. He tasked farmers with submitting written recommendations on tea’s classification and profitability, noting expert guidance from figures like Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu and Prof. Kabwegyere to inform government strategies.
Museveni also discouraged establishing a separate Tea Authority, calling it a “colonial mentality,” and instead proposed crop-specific desks within the Ministry to streamline governance. He pledged financial support for the sector, including a Shs 312 billion fund to help tea growers and processors clear loans and access fertilizers.
Officials, including Minister Frank Tumwebaze and Uganda Tea Outgrowers Association Chairperson Onesimus Matsiko, urged farmers to adopt self-regulatory measures and implement zoning policies to strengthen the industry. The meeting, attended by government ministers, parliamentarians, and the Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, reinforced the government’s commitment to modernizing Uganda’s tea production while enhancing competitiveness in the global market.
Takeaway: With new regulations, financial support, and improved farming practices, Uganda’s tea sector is poised for higher quality production, stronger international market presence, and sustainable growth.