Government Sued Over Coffee Deal

The Ugandan government was dragged to court over the controversial coffee deal that was signed between the Ministry of Finance and Italian-based Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Ltd.

The suit was filed by lawyers Micheal Kaboneka and Henry Byansi say it was illegal for the government of Uganda to assign the deal which they claim is unfair.

Early this month details of an MoU signed between the Government of Uganda and the Uganda Vinci Coffee Company ltd emerged in the press creating buzz around the country.

According to the MoU that was signed by the Finance minister Matia Kasaijja signed the deal on behalf of the government and Enrica Pinetti signed on behalf of Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Ltd, the deal offers the European company preferential treatment in the coffee sector something Members of Parliament and the private sector have heavily opposed.

Two court advocates, Henry Byansi and Michael Aboneka dragged the Government of Uganda and Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited challenging the deal.

According to lawyers who filed the lawsuit before the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala, the deal leaves a bad taste

Aboneka says it’s wrong for the government to make such decisions without consulting the different stakeholders who are responsible citing the ministry of Agriculture, the solicitor general, and the Uganda Coffee Development Authority among others before signing this deal.

They now want the court to quash and put on hold the agreement which they say is illegal.

The two are now waiting for the civil court to respond to the matter and have urged Ugandans to join them.

Last week, the Attorney General of Uganda Kiryowa Kiwanuka came out and defended the MoU between the Ministry of Finance and the Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Ltd.