The Forum for Democratic Change presidential candidate, Mr Nandala Mafabi, has called upon people of West Nile sub-region to embrace coffee farming, saying it is a key to prosperity.
Addressing a rally in Adjumani District on Monday, Mr Mafabi said: ‘You should now begin growing coffee, which can bring money to your pockets. They (NRM) government have managed to make you poor deliberately to keep them in power. ‘
He added: ‘We had cash crops like cotton, coffee and the cooperatives but they have killed them. We shall revive the cooperatives to help our farmers earn decently and improve their household income.’
Mr Mafabi criticised the various poverty alleviation programmes introduced by the government, such as the Parish Development Model and Emyooga, saying they cannot perform their stated role.
He said if elected, he would implement better ideas such as allocating funds directly to villages and introducing a specialised bank for farmers to make it easier for them to secure funding.
He said the current method of taxation places a burden on ordinary citizens while favouring the rich and elite.
Adjumani residents expressed optimism regarding the FDC presidential candidate’s speech, particularly his proposals for local economic empowerment.
Ms Francisca Chandia, from Adjumani Town Council, stated her frustration with the current government, noting that despite being under its rule for 40 years, she remains poor and has not benefited from existing government programmes.
‘Poverty has remained high among the locals for all these years because of corruption cases and few people who have positioned themselves to eat the national cake. Even most promises have not been delivered,’ she said.
Another resident, Ms Sharon Tasha, who subscribes to the NRM party, was impressed by Mafabi’s coffee message, saying she would consider establishing a coffee garden.
‘Mafabi saw the growth of the Bugisu Coffee Cooperative Union. I buy his idea on coffee union. I will take his advice and start coffee farming because our weather can also favour coffee,’ she said.