President Museveni

In an open letter addressed to President Museveni, Ugandan cartoonist and social commentator Jim Spire Ssentongo critiqued the president’s recent address on the dissolution of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).

Spire posted the letter on X and delved into widespread concerns over corruption and lack of trust in government institutions, particularly in the context of Uganda’s coffee sector.

The cartoonist acknowledged UCDA’s flaws, citing corruption and incompetence, but emphasized that its role in guiding farmers toward better practices—such as refraining from drying coffee on bare ground and reducing contamination—had been positive.

He expressed skepticism over transferring responsibilities from UCDA to the Ministry of Agriculture given the Ministry’s history with failed initiatives. Spire argued that the government’s real challenge is a pervasive trust deficit among citizens.

Jim Spire Ssentogo

He pointed out that, over time, repeated cases of graft, inefficiency, and exploitation of public resources have alienated the people. Spire has argued that Museveni’s administration often overlooks local welfare, allowing major initiatives to become profit-driven projects for an elite few, leaving communities marginalized.

In his letter he suggested that such exclusionary practices fuel public skepticism toward government policies, including the recent coffee bill.

Spire has urged Museveni to address the corruption in his administration and warned that well-intentioned policies will be viewed as avenues for exploitation, rather than efforts to improve citizens’ livelihoods.