Government Launches Coffee Seedling Drive to Combat Poverty in Lango Region

The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has kicked off a major initiative in Uganda’s Lango sub-region to tackle poverty through free coffee seedlings. Lira City Assistant Resident Commissioner Bonny Okello Alele launched the distribution of 200,000 seedlings on April 15, 2026, at the Lira City Mayor’s Garden.

Coffee Regional Coordinator Andrew Okello highlighted how past myths about coffee not thriving in Lango led farmers to focus on low-value cotton. The government is now training locals to enter this profitable sector, targeting household poverty rates at 25% per the Uganda Bureau of Statistics’ Multidimensional Poverty Index from the 2024 census.

Statistics show 150,000 seedlings distributed to selected schools out of 500,000 demanded, costing Shs 200 million for Lira City alone at Shs 2,000 per seedling. Officials timed the handouts for the rainy season to boost survival rates and warned against selling them.

Lira City Deputy Clerk Tom Mirro stressed that the seedlings are a free government gift, not for resale, drawing from experiences in other areas. He encouraged embracing coffee like successful regions.

ARCC Okello Alele envisions poverty-free Lango in a decade, with civil servants like teachers supplementing low salaries through coffee sales. He noted enhanced livelihoods would widen the tax base for economic growth, assuring non-partisan distribution.

Current UCDA prices reflect coffee’s value: Robusta Kiboko at Shs 6,500–7,500/kg, FAQ at Shs 13,500–15,000/kg, and Arabica parchment at Shs 16,000–17,000/kg.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)