Speaker Orders Independent Probe into UGX9.6 Bn OPM Coffee Scandal

KAMPALA – Speaker Anita Among has ordered an independent investigation into the UGX9.6 billion expenditure by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on teaching Ugandans how to drink coffee.

She has deemed this expense a misuse of taxpayer funds and called for those responsible to be held accountable.Addressing the issue, Among stated, “

The coffee consumption project is a frivolous expense, and I applaud the Committee for referring it to the CID for further investigation. We need a separate inquiry into this matter, without waiting for the Treasury Memorandum. Whoever authorized this wasteful spending must be held responsible, and a thorough investigation is required.”

This directive follows concerns raised by John Teira, who warned against allowing such scandals to go unpunished, as it might encourage similar deceptive projects by public servants.Teira emphasized, “If we don’t take action against those responsible for this, the Ministry of Health may come up with a budget to teach Ugandans how to use condoms or any other absurd project.”

The genesis of the OPM Coffee Scandal stems from a report by the Auditor General, Jon Muwanga, revealing that OPM awarded a contract to Inspire Africa (U) Ltd worth UGX9,662,236,680.

This contract included activities such as coffee production training, coffee consumption initiatives (including coffee shops), capacity building, and administration.

The Auditor General’s report exposed that the coffee shops promised in various locations were either non-existent or non-operational, except in Gulu.

Medard Sseggona, Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, criticized the project’s lack of planning and described the UGX1,906,556,240 expenditure on “coffee consumption” as wasteful.

MPs reacted strongly to the coffee scandal, with David Kabanda questioning whether billions of taxpayers’ money were indeed spent on teaching people how to drink coffee.

Leader of Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, urged stricter scrutiny of social action programs in the future to ensure they benefit the intended recipients.

Naboth Namanya, Rubabo County MP questioned whether the Ministry of Education was consulted regarding the curriculum used to teach coffee consumption.

Elisa Rutahigwa, Rukungiri Municipality MP defended the expenditure, citing health reasons, while Sanon Bwiire expressed shock and dismay over the project’s initiation.

Patrick Aeku shared his experience of visiting an OPM-established coffee shop, where he paid UGX20,000 for a flask of coffee.

Meanwhile, Rukia Nakadama, the Third Deputy Prime Minister, clarified that the project aimed to popularize coffee consumption, not teach people how to drink coffee.

Sseggona further revealed that when CIDs visited Malaba, they found that the coffee shop there did not operate as expected, and money collected was sent back to Inspire Africa’s account in Kampala.

Additionally, several promised components of the project, such as salons and multimedia services, did not materialize as planned.