With controversy brewing around the multi-billion Vince Coffee deal, the Former Minister of Agriculture Victoria Ssekitoleko has said that if she was still the Minister she would never align the said deal to anything.
Last week, an agreement between the government and Vinci Coffee Company Limited went public and many people in the coffee sector have since rejected the deal. The controversial coffee deal entails of the Investor getting exclusive rights to buy all of Uganda’s coffee, exemption from paying all taxes( income, PAYE, Excise Duty, Stamp Duty, VAT, Import Duty and corporate income tax.) and ends in 2032 with subject to renewal.
The company’s Italian investor Enrica Pinetti is also linked to the stalled Lubowa Hospital construction.
“If I was still the minister of Agriculture, I would not align this deal to anything. During my time, we used to receive information in hard copies. If they brought this deal to my table, I would tear it and throw it away,” said Ssekitoleko.
She further added that if she was still heading the Agricultural Ministry she would have advised the coffee stakeholders to ignore the deal.
“This Coffee deal is nothing to me. If I was still the Minister of Agriculture I would tell farmers to plant their coffee and keep quiet. If you are in the coffee sector, ignore this deal,” said Ssekitoleko.
Ssekitoleko also asked the young people to join the coffee business.
“I am asking you young people to join the coffee business because you speak the language. You can sell your coffee digitally,” she said.