Bishop Distributes 20,000 Coffee Plantlets to Promote Income Generation

The Bishop of Fort Portal Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Robert K. Muhiirwa Akiiki, has distributed over 20,000 Robusta coffee plantlets to various institutions within the Diocese, with a call on communities to embrace coffee farming as a sustainable way to improve household income.

The distribution took place on Friday October 31, at St. Adolf Ongoing Formation Centre Mukabura, where parish priests, head teachers, and other representatives had gathered to receive the plantlets provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) as earlier promised at the Diocesan Coffee policy launch in July

Rev. Fr. Tadeus Tusiime, the Diocesan Coordinator for Agriculture, commended Bishop Muhiirwa for his strong support of coffee farming and for inspiring Christians to take it up as a tool for socio-economic transformation. He also appreciated MAAIF and the regional agricultural officer, Mr. Felix Muhiire, for their partnership and timely delivery of seedlings.

Among the beneficiaries were Kahunge Parish (2,250 plantlets), Kanyamukare (1,350), Kagoma (2,250), Katoosa (2,250), Mabira (900), Rugombe (1,550), Nkuruba Farm (10,000), Wekomiire (2,250), Sts. Peter and Paul Primary School (100), Rusekere S.S. (900), Kicwamba (450), and Kasule (900), among others.

Fr. Tusiime, encouraged parishes that missed out to remain in contact with his office, noting that more plantlets will be distributed soon.

Mr.  Felix Muhiire from MAAIF commended the Diocese for its collaboration, saying that working through the Diocese helps the Ministry reach out to communities more effectively. He urged farmers to plant the coffee immediately, saying that the current November rains provide the best conditions for growth.

Rev. Fr. Benedict Kakwezi, Parish Priest of Kahunge and an experienced coffee farmer, advised recipients to take good care of their crops. He testified that the distributed Robusta variety is high-yielding and disease-resistant when properly maintained, and encouraged the use of manure to boost production.