By Brian Mugenyi
MASAKA | Coffee farmers in Masaka City, alongside local government officials, have commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the NRM administration for supporting the agricultural sector through the distribution of free organic fertilizers aimed at boosting regional coffee yields.
During the official launch of the distribution exercise on Tuesday at the Masaka City Town Yard, over 200 coffee farmers received four 25kg bags each of Fertiplus fertilizer. The batch is part of a larger consignment of 852 bags allocated to Masaka City by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
Speaking during the event, Mr. Mathew Kwikiriza, the officer overseeing coffee distribution in Masaka City, highlighted that the national initiative aligns with the government’s strategic target to scale up Uganda’s annual coffee output to 20 million bags.
“Farmers receiving these inputs were selected based on their capacity to maximize production,” Mr. Kwikiriza explained. “This distribution serves as a demonstration measure to ensure our coffee growers significantly improve yield quality and harvest volume. We also urge farmers to strictly maintain clean post-harvest handling environments.”
He added that all nine districts comprising the Greater Masaka region have benefited from the MAAIF fertilizer distribution scheme.
Speaking at the function, Masaka City NRM leaders and administration officials reiterated President Museveni’s commitment to protecting agricultural land and improving local livelihoods.
“President Museveni understands that Uganda’s economic backbone is agriculture, and Greater Masaka remains a central pillar of our national coffee export,” stated local official Mr. Katumba Ssegawa. “The NRM government is committed to taking farmers further by introducing value-addition equipment and boosting SACCO capital beyond these fertilizer interventions.”
Mr. Katumba subsequently handed over fertilizer packages to several local farmers, including Mr. Fred Lukyamuzi of Kasana Village, as well as Ms. Grace Mugume and Ms. Mary Ssenkima of Ssaza Village.
Expressing her appreciation, Ms. Ssenkima commended the government for extending direct farm inputs to grassroots producers.
“I thank President Museveni for delivering Fertiplus fertilizers directly to us through MAAIF. It demonstrates that smallholder farmers are prioritized in national development plans, and it gives us the confidence to grow high-quality coffee for the market,” Ms. Ssenkima said.
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