
06/11/2024
OBOTE DEFIES MENGO ON 1963 COFFEE PRICES
Buganda govt wanted 60cts per pound of coffee but Prime Minister Obote's govt fixed it at 45cts based on world market prices.
_Lukiiko_ members were divided over directing Buganda farmers not sell coffee to govt's Coffee Marketing Board till Obote raised it to 60cts but Obote promised police action to protect willing sellers in Buganda.
Obote had just appointed Roger Mukasa to head CMB which was legally the only buyer.
Obote also accused Mengo of "politicizing coffee economics". He added that some of those sponsoring boycott were secretly buying coffee from poor Buganda farmers at less than govt's 45cts!
Finally Obote wrote to Katikkiro Kintu halting further discussion on coffee price.
All this happened between October and December 1963.