Gen (Rtd) Salim Saleh has dismissed claims that Uganda’s coffee was stolen, saying the crop remains available as he called on Ugandans to support efforts to develop the sector.
Saleh made the remarks on October 13, 2026, during the launch of the Uganda Coffee Group at Kapeeka Industrial Park in Nakaseke District, where he responded to lyrics in a song by musician King Saha lamenting the loss of coffee and other agricultural resources.
In the song, King Saha sings, “Wano akamwanyi kaaliwo,” meaning “Here there used to be coffee.”
He follows this with the line, “Wano akamwanyi kaaliwo nga tumanyi okukalima,” translated as “Here there used to be coffee, which we knew how to grow.”
The song also references vanilla, cotton and moringa, expressing concern about the disappearance of agricultural resources and their implications for people’s livelihoods.
Responding to the song’s message, Saleh dismissed the suggestion that coffee had been stolen, describing the claim as a lie. He urged Ugandans to join the Uganda Coffee Group and participate in efforts to expand investment and strengthen the country’s coffee industry.
The Uganda Coffee Group is a private sector-led initiative seeking to coordinate strategic investments, promote commercial coffee production and increase value addition along the coffee value chain.
Saleh, who serves as Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, has been associated with agricultural transformation and industrial development initiatives, including projects at Kapeeka.
Uganda’s coffee industry remains a major source of export earnings and a livelihood for millions of people. However, debates persist over farmers’ earnings, the role of middlemen and the extent to which local processing can increase the value retained within the country.
The launch of the Uganda Coffee Group comes amid efforts to attract investment, expand production and increase the share of coffee value generated domestically.
Saleh’s response to King Saha’s song placed the debate over the country’s coffee resources alongside a renewed call for Ugandans to participate in developing the sector.
