Clare N
As tea farmers in Kyenjojo District and other parts of the Tooro Region face challenges due to declining tea prices, the Minister of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba, has indicated that the government, led by His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, currently lacks a solution to this pressing issue.
Minister Lumumba made these remarks as the chief guest at the inauguration of Uganda Martyr’s Rugombe Catholic Parish on Sunday, addressing the primary concerns of the region, where tea farming is crucial.
Engage in Alternatives
She however praised the Diocese of Fort Portal, led by Bishop Muhiirwa, for its efforts to promote economic prosperity by encouraging residents to explore alternatives such as coffee farming, which is a valuable cash crop in the area.
The Minister’s comments come at a time when tea farmers in Kabarole and Kyenjojo districts are growing increasingly frustrated over the significant drop in the price of green tea leaves, which currently stands at 150, shuttering their hopes for a timely government intervention.
In a recent interview, tea farmer Grace Kyomuhendo from Kyenjojo district, expressed her ongoing financial struggles, having relied on tea farming for her income.
Rev. Fr. James Burasa CSC, the Parish Priest Kyarusozi, noted that the tea crisis has severely impacted his parish income and parishioners, who are struggling to make ends meet. He explained that the lack of alternatives has left residents feeling hopeless as they await government assistance that seems not to come soon.
