Archbishop Kazimba calls for Support of Women in coffee production.

Ntungamo:The Archbishop of Uganda His Grace Dr Steven Samuel Kazimba Mugalu has rallied members of the public to support Ugandan women who are involved in coffee production.

The Archbishop made the call on Friday January 17, 2025 while paying a courtesy visit to Africa Coffee Park factory belonging to Nelson Tugume of Inspire Africa Group in Rwashamire town, Ntungamo district.

Kazimba revealed that women have on several occasions suffered the injustice of engaging in coffee planting and taking care of the gardens while men are busy enjoying money produced from coffee by women.

He said most men are using the coffee money from the sweat of their wives to marry other women which he said is blasphemy that should not be practiced.

“A woman goes to the garden, plants coffee seeds, takes care of them and does harvesting, only for a man to sell coffee produce and use the money to marry other wives.” Said Kazimba.

Kazimba also asked church leaders to plant coffee on the church land as a way of not only utilizing but also protecting it from the would-be grabbers.

He said planting coffee on the church land will help to increase income of the churches as well as Christians.

“Some of the church land is idle, I call upon the church leaders to harness our idle land by planting coffee and this will prevent it from grabbers.” the Archbishop said.

He commended Nelson Tugume, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of Inspire Africa Group for investing in coffee value addition, further appealing to the public to grow more coffee that will feed the Africa coffee park Plant.

On his part, Nelson Tugume expressed joy to His Grace Dr Kazimba for visiting the Africa coffee park Plant and emphasized Inspire Africa Group’s mission of uplifting people from poverty through adding value in their coffee harvests.

He re-ecoed Archbishop’s sentiments on injustices suffered by women engaged in coffee production saying women invest a lot of effort in the coffee sector but end up with little or no money in their pockets citing her mother as a case study.

“My mother represents so many women in this country who are involved in the coffee sector and have not been able to get better value out of their coffee.” Said Tugume.

The Archbishop later planted a memorial coffee seedling at Africa coffee park Plant and this was followed by the launching of Coffee Marathon, an event superintended over by Samuel Odongo, the assistant commissioner of sports from the ministry of Education and sports on behalf of sports minister Peter Ogwang.

Coffee Marathon is slated for May 24, 2025 in Rwashamire town, Ntungamo district.