According to the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, he was not privileged in the coffee agreement which was signed between the government and Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited.
His statement came after he followed phone calls he had received from different journalists across the country seeking comments regarding the agreement.
In response, Tumwebaze asked the media to direct their questions to the Ministry of Finance, adding that he could not respond to them since the time when he didn’t witness the signing of the memorandum.
Tumwebaze also tweeted, “A note to journalists calling me and wanting to know about the coffee agreement recently signed between the government and one investor; be neither myself nor the Ministry of Agriculture is a party/privy to that agreement.
Furthermore, he advised that all the queries regarding the same question should be directed to the Ministry of Finance for assing correct information and reporting.
On Wednesday, opposition MPs stated they were set to travel to coffee-growing areas in Uganda to sensitise farmers about what could befall them if the agreement between the two entities comes into force.
According to MPs, the agreement is counterproductive to the country’s interests.
Recently, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija signed the contract on behalf of the government, while Enrica Pinetti signed on the side of Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited (UVCC).
Ramadhan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, and the Treasury secretary witnessed the signing.
UVCC is reported and located on Plot 2, Summit View in Kololo, Kampala.
Moreover, the company gave free land in the Industrial and Business Park at Namanve after it demonstrated its ability to establish a coffee processing facility in Kampala.
Whilst, the opposition team stated that UVCC being given exclusive rights to buy all Uganda coffee even before the administration can look at other players is a dishonest action.
Moreover, the concession of the UVCC will finish in 2032, but it is subject to regeneration.
The total investment value is not defined as per the leaked legal document.
