Residents Decry Rising Coffee Theft in Kayunga

[Da Dona]

Coffee farmers in Kayunga District have resorted to guarding their plantations at night with pangas and wooden sticks following a wave of theft targeting both ripe and immature coffee.

The community vigilance has led to the arrest of two suspected thieves who were found with bags of stolen immature coffee. The suspects are being held at Busaana Police Station as investigations continue.

The latest raids were reported in Kyengera, Kufu and Lusenke villages, with similar incidents recorded in Kitimbwa and Nazigo sub-counties. Kyengera Village LC Chairperson George Wameke said thieves took advantage of Wednesday night’s bright moonlight to raid four plantations.

Residents later searched homes of suspected coffee processors and recovered bags of immature coffee, leading to the arrest of the two suspects.

Uganda Quality Coffee Traders and Processors field officer Dembe Ssekitoleko said some farmers had resorted to using rudimentary tools, including pangas and sticks, to protect their crops.

Kayunga District LC V Chairperson Andrew Muwonge has urged local leaders and police not to release suspects arrested over coffee theft, saying premature harvesting damages coffee quality, threatens farmers’ livelihoods and hurts the local economy.

Are authorities doing enough to protect farmers from rising Crop Theft in your area?

Daily Monitor UG​

 

[Eronda]

They are barely sleeping in the night as they are on alert keeping their coffee plantations