By Sophan Niwamanya

The outspoken parish priest of Kitaga rev Fr. Gaetano Batanyenda has blamed the Government of Uganda for continuing giving free land to foreign investors yet Ugandan’s are also capable of owning them.

The company was given free land in the Industrial and Business Park at Namanve measuring 27 acres after it indicated its capability of establishing a coffee processing facility in Kampala. It will be given exclusive rights to buy all Uganda’s coffee and its concession will end in 2032, but subject to renewal.

On 10 February 2022, the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija signed an agreement with an Italian, Enrica Pinetti to allow her company, Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited (UVCC), to establish a coffee processing plant worth US$80 million.

Apart from the involvement of Enrica Pinetti, an already controversial Italian in Uganda’s foreign investment circles, the overly generous terms of the agreement have left a bitter taste.

The company agreement with the government has provisions to exempt the Vinci Coffee Company from paying taxes including Income tax, Pay as You Earn, Excise duty, and NSSF. This document has provisions that seek to subsidize this company giving them a special tariff of 5 cents per unit in terms of electricity.

Now, Batanyenda in his weekly press address speaking on Tuesday in Muhanga town council Rukiga district, stressed that it is unfortunate that Uganda is known for offering free land to foreign investors hence Ugandans can also become good investors in their own country.

Batanyenda statements comes at a time they are controversy over the agreement that was signed by the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija and an Italian, Enrica Pinetti to allow her company, Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Limited (UVCC), to establish a coffee processing plant worth US$80 million.

He said Ugandan’s should not accept to surrender this project and land in hands of foreigners as a way of ensuring that they are capable of owning this project which contains multi-billion funds.

This comes at a time coffee farmers had not been consulted by the government prior to the signing of the agreement.

He wonders why the Government would trust the same investor who has failed to complete the International Specialized Hospital of Uganda in Lubowa.

Batanyenda however implored the members of parliament to terminate the agreement and own it as Ugandans.

Endz//