KAMPALA, UGANDA — Mwenge Central Member of Parliament, Hon. Methuselah Kasukali, has called for the regulation of Uganda’s tea sector, citing poor-quality tea as a major factor behind the country’s lower earnings compared to neighbouring countries.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Kasukali said Uganda fetches lower prices for its tea due to quality concerns and the lack of a comprehensive legal framework to regulate the sector.
He argued that the absence of effective regulation has affected the competitiveness of Ugandan tea on regional and international markets, limiting the returns earned by farmers and other players in the industry.
The legislator called for a clear legal framework to establish standards for tea production, processing and marketing, ensuring that Ugandan tea meets the required quality benchmarks.
Kasukali noted that regulating the sector would improve the quality of tea, strengthen its position in the international market and enable producers to secure better prices for their products.
He further observed that improved quality standards and effective regulation could attract more investment into the industry, benefiting farmers, processors, exporters and other stakeholders across the tea value chain.
The MP projected that proper regulation of the tea sector could increase Uganda’s foreign earnings to approximately US$120 million, highlighting the potential economic benefits of addressing challenges affecting the industry.
His submission underscores the need for government to strengthen agricultural standards and establish appropriate policies to improve the competitiveness of Uganda’s tea exports.
Kasukali’s remarks place the regulation of the tea industry among the issues requiring parliamentary attention as Uganda seeks to improve export earnings, increase farmers’ incomes and maximise the value of its agricultural products.
