Coffee farmers in Irapa Village, Bugaya Sub-county, Buyende District, have staged a demonstration to protest alleged corruption, harassment, and extortion by the regional coffee quality assurance officer, Mr Ismael Kabaale.
The farmers accuse Mr Kabaale of soliciting money from them under the guise of enforcement, falsely classifying ripe coffee berries as immature, and imposing unjustified fines. They are now urging relevant government authorities to intervene immediately to resolve their grievances.
Led by Mr Ismail Kakonge, the demonstrators alleged that Mr Kabaale routinely intimidates them by raiding their properties alongside police officers and private associates. According to Mr Kakonge, these officers confiscate their harvested coffee and load it onto waiting vehicles before driving it to unknown destinations.
Mr Kakonge maintained that local farmers have consistently adhered to established quality assurance guidelines by harvesting only fully ripe coffee cherries. Despite this, he alleged that Mr Kabaale has extended his operations to raiding private stores and seizing dried coffee beans.
In one specific incident, Mr Kakonge alleged that Mr Kabaale demanded Shs750,000 from local farmers before confiscating three bags of dried coffee beans, which were subsequently transported to the Kamuli Industrial Area under the pretext of inspection prior to processing.
“It is disheartening to see a coffee quality assurance officer, accompanied by armed men, taking large sums of money and bags of dried coffee in broad daylight. We want justice,” Mr Kakonge said.
Another affected farmer, Mr Mohammed Boyi, expressed deep frustration over the official’s conduct and appealed to Mr Kabaale’s superiors for immediate intervention, requesting his removal from the post. Mr Boyi warned that such official overreach is undermining local enthusiasm for coffee production, threatening to reverse agricultural gains in the region.
“As days go by, we are increasingly considering a return to sugarcane farming because the future of coffee growing looks increasingly uncertain,” Mr Boyi noted.
The allegations of extortion extend to arbitrary arrests. Ms Annette Basirika, 62, alleged that her son was wrongfully detained and handcuffed over false accusations of harvesting immature coffee berries.
“My son was unjustly accused of possessing immature coffee berries. When I tried to intervene, they handcuffed him and forced me to pay a hefty sum of money for his release,” Ms Basirika said, further alleging that a local resident, identified only as Shaban, has been colluding with the enforcement team.
Feeling that Mr Kabaale operates with impunity, the aggrieved farmers have appealed directly to the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Mr Balaam Barugahara, as well as local government authorities, to step in and handle the matter.
When contacted for comment, Mr Ismael Kabaale, whose jurisdiction covers Kamuli, Jinja, and Luuka districts, firmly denied soliciting bribes or extorting money from farmers. He explained that his operations are strictly regulatory, aimed at ensuring that farmers harvest only ripe cherries and dry them to acceptable moisture levels.
“I am committed to improving coffee quality across the region without favouritism. Any farmer found drying coffee on the ground or harvesting immature berries will face the consequences prescribed by law. This is intended to ensure compliance with quality standards and effective risk management,” Mr Kabaale said.
The unrest comes at a delicate time for agriculture in the Busoga sub-region, where coffee production historically struggled against the dominance of sugarcane farming. In recent years, local leaders alongside the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and the Ministry of Agriculture—highlighted during events such as the National Agricultural Show in Jinja—have aggressively promoted coffee cultivation with a goal to triple regional yields, lift household incomes, and create youth employment. However, farmers warn that ongoing heavy-handed enforcement tactics could jeopardize these development targets.
