Lira, Uganda | Leaders in the Lango subregion have called on communities to embrace coffee and cocoa farming, urging each household to dedicate at least two hectares of land under “Repositioning Lango as a Hub for High-Value Coffee and Cocoa Value Chains” campaign.
Ambassador Dickson Ogwang Okul, speaking at the Regional Consultative Engagement on Perennial Crop Production at All Saints University-Canon Lawrence Campus in Boroboro, Lira City, encouraged practical action to shift Lango from subsistence farming to a commercially viable hub. He emphasized that long-term strategies, inclusive collaboration, and active community participation are essential for sustainable growth in Uganda’s coffee sector. Okul noted that modern leadership should be measured by tangible contributions to local productivity and pledged his personal commitment to hands-on involvement.
He highlighted leadership examples that are driving socio-economic transformation, citing Bishop Omara’s efforts in drilling boreholes to support irrigation and clean water, and Bishop Professor Alfred Olwa’s management of over ten hectares of coffee coupled with comprehensive training programs for farmers. Okul described adopting a business-oriented mindset as key to transforming the region’s agricultural practices and achieving poverty eradication, stressing the need for structured planning, practical action, and tangible support.
Rev. Hagad Emuny of Adok Parish Church of Uganda in Dokolo District urged communities to translate faith and agricultural knowledge into practical outcomes. He stressed that demonstration sites, hands-on learning, organized systems, continuous training, and effective extension services are critical to improving production and household livelihoods. Rev. Hagad also underscored the importance of partnerships with government institutions, mobile outreach for wider accessibility, and better market systems to ensure fair returns for farmers, encouraging communities to start small, practical projects while leveraging available support.
Hans De Heer, CEO of Plutus Coffee, outlined the company’s structured strategy for coffee and cocoa development, emphasizing reliance on technical expertise, organic farming, and youth involvement. He explained that Plutus Coffee would adopt a phased approach comprising community engagement, field activities, feedback collection, and implementation, focusing on practical, execution-driven strategies. De Heer detailed ongoing efforts to provide agricultural inputs, develop farming calendars, and strengthen supply chains through partnerships with primary societies and farmer organizations.
Bishop Joseph Omara of the Born Again Pentecostal Churches welcomed the initiative, noting that a business-minded, infrastructure-first approach is critical to transforming Lango into a coffee hub. He pointed out his contributions in establishing ten demonstration water points in Amolatar and over 100 water wells across Lango, recently extending similar efforts to Kotido, to ensure reliable irrigation for seedlings. He emphasized that integrating irrigation systems with coffee plantations while maintaining Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards is vital for sustainable agricultural growth.
Environmental expert Eddy Moris Ogweng highlighted the importance of understanding climate patterns as a foundation for successful farming, while Dr. Nyang Francis of the Lango Religious Forum called for a mindset shift among communities to embrace development opportunities and utilize idle school land for productive initiatives. Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Julius Peter Ocur Odwee noted that corruption remains a significant barrier to sector growth.
Key takeaways from the engagement included the critical role of capacity building, which contributes over 60% to a farm’s success and the need for certified nursery beds to produce high-quality coffee seedlings. The meeting brought together cultural and religious leaders, farmers, government representatives, and other stakeholders, who agreed that the success of repositioning Lango depends on active participation from every community member, institution, and leader.
Participants emphasized that, with structured support, technical guidance, and community commitment, Lango is poised to become a high-value coffee and cocoa hub, driving sustainable development and improving household livelihoods across the subregion.
