More than 150 beneficiaries are set to benefit from the Coffee and Cocoa Value Chain Development project (CoCoDev) following its transition from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF).
The project, valued at 25.5 billion shillings and co-funded by the European Union, is expected to transform Uganda’s coffee and cocoa sectors by boosting commercial production, improving quality, and opening up new market opportunities.
According to Maj. Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama, the Permanent Secretary of MAAIF, at least 152 beneficiaries were awarded grants between August and October 2024, totaling 12.6 billion shillings. Under the scheme, farmers will cultivate 3,497 acres of coffee and 552 acres of cocoa, with the government covering 53% of the costs through a reimbursable grant system.
“As we finalize the transition process, we urge all beneficiaries to continue implementing their activities, including preparations for the next planting season in March,” Kyomukama said in a statement issued Thursday.
He reassured stakeholders that all financial and contractual obligation previously managed by UCDA remain intact, with international processes underway to update bank signatories in line with the Public Finance and Management Act.
The CoCoDev project, launched in March 2022, is scheduled to run until September 2027 and is designed to strengthen coffee and cocoa policies, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance Uganda’s positioning in international markets.
With MAAIF now at the helm, the ministry has pledged a seamless transition and efficient implementation, ensuring that all beneficiaries fully reap the rewards of this ambitious initiative.
