The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among has warned members of parliament against making reckless statements about the report on the controversial coffee deal signed between the government and the Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited.
Among made the comments while responding to the queries made by some legislators in the plenary sitting on Tuesday claiming the report has taken too long yet the public is demanding answers and pressuring the legislators to have the report tabled.
In response, however Among assured the House no one is suffocating the report as reported by some legislators adding that the report is ready and would be presented and debated soon.
“I have heard a lot of sentiments from my members, even from the public about the coffee report. I want to assure you members of this House…the report is ready and the report will be presented to this House. Nobody should imagine that we are suffocating the report, we are here for the people out there,” Among said.
‘’I also want to ask the Executive to accept and correct mistakes that have been made. I also want to assure the country that we shall take a stand in the public interest,’’ she added.
Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, the Kira Municipality legislator, and John Baptist Nambeshe, the Opposition Chief Whip further tasked the Speaker to reveal the specific date when the coffee report will be presented so that MPs prepare for debate accordingly.
In response, Among told the legislators to be patient and give the presiding officer time to prepare the Order Paper.
Don’t cry more than the bereaved, because maybe some of us are more bereaved than you are…we are coffee growers,” Among added.
Last week, Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa had told the legislators that the presiding officer had received the report by the committee and needed to first read through it before it is finally presented to the whole House.
According to the agreement, the government gave Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited free land in the Industrial and Business Park at Namanve measuring 27 acres after indicating its capacity to establish a coffee processing facility.
The agreement also gives the company exclusive rights to buy all of Uganda’s coffee until 2032 but is subject to renewal.
The agreement also exempts the Vinci Coffee Company from paying Income tax, Pay As You Earn, Excise duty, and remitting NSSF contributions. The agreement also provides a 5 percent subsidy on electricity for the company.
However, a number stake holders in the Coffee industry including farmers, exporters, processors, and opposition legislators have contested the agreement and described it as a bad deal.
But, Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiroywa and Finance Minister Matia Kasaija defended the coffee agreement.
Furthermore, President Museveni recently revealed that he will not cancel the deal but rather work on recommendations from the trade committee Parliament of Uganda, of parliament after presenting the report.
By Kobusiinge Monica
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