By Janey Watango

Leaders of the Okoro Coffee Growers Cooperative Union have urgently appealed to the government, through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, to intervene and rescue the union as it struggles to recover from near-total collapse.

The call was made during a capacity-building training for newly elected leaders and the governing body held last week at the Ayuda coffee factory in Abanga Sub-county, Zombo District.

The training sought to equip the new leadership with essential skills in cooperative governance, leadership, financial management, and operational best practices. The goal is to restore the union to competitiveness with stronger peers such as the Bugisu Cooperative Union in eastern Uganda.

Scovia Tusubira, a trainer from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, noted that the newly elected leaders lacked foundational knowledge and practical experience in running a cooperative union.

“They were green and raw in the operations of the union,” she said, adding that they also lacked the advocacy and lobbying skills needed to secure funding for revival and improved performance.

Jalicida Collins, the Vice Chairperson, described the union’s current condition as being in an “intensive care unit (ICU)” state, requiring urgent support from government and relevant stakeholders.

He said the leadership would identify priority intervention areas for the ministry through strategic engagement, collaboration, and benchmarking with other successful cooperative unions.

Formed in 1962 and headquartered in Paidha Town, Zombo District, the Okoro Coffee Growers Cooperative Union is one of Uganda’s long-standing farmer-owned cooperatives. It aggregates high-quality Arabica coffee grown by smallholder farmers on the highland slopes of the West Nile region primarily Zombo, Nebbi, Arua, and Pakwach districts), at altitudes of approximately 4,500–5,200 feet above sea level. The coffee is largely organically grown on small family gardens and is known for its mild, sweet aroma and distinctive flavour profile.

Historically, the union’s processing plant at Ayuda handled substantial volumes, supporting local livelihoods until operational challenges, including high energy costs and governance issues, led to prolonged dormancy of key assets.

The union currently serves more than 8,000 member farmers and according to the leaders, a functional Okoro Coffee Growers Cooperative Union delivers multiple agricultural and economic benefits to local smallholders. By aggregating cherry and parchment coffee from primary societies, the union strengthens farmers’ bargaining power, reduces exploitation by middlemen, and enables better farm-gate prices. Value addition through hulling, grading, and potential export marketing captures more of the value chain for members rather than leaving it to external buyers.

During the training, participants resolved that the union must not be allowed to collapse. They committed to a collective revival strategy focused on increasing coffee production through better agronomic practices and seedling distribution, mobilising resources , expanding exports via value addition, and validating and putting idle assets such as the Ayuda factory and related machinery back into productive use.

Key measures agreed upon include revamping primary cooperative societies through leadership changes where needed, sustained capacity building, and partnerships with other unions and potential investors.

Government support via free seedlings, fertilisers for rehabilitating ageing coffee trees, and technical guidance from district extension workers is already underway as part of broader revival efforts.

Special general meetings and mobilisation of members across primary societies are continuing to restore grassroots structures and prepare for credible governance processes.

Leaders emphasised that deliberate, collective responsibility   combining improved leadership, financial discipline, production intensification, and strategic partnerships ,  is essential to restoring the Okoro Coffee Growers Cooperative Union as a viable engine for rural development and sustainable livelihoods in Zombo and the wider West Nile coffee belt.Okoro coffee Leaders pose for a photo after the engagement.

Union Vice Chairperson Orom Collins CanudwogaScovia Tusubira during the training

Janey Watango is news distrubutor at Zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information hub for African news, trends, and updates. Stay informed!