THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE COFFEE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF UGANDA AND UGANDA VINCI COFFEE CO LTD ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN PLAYERS IN UGANDA’S COFFEE INDUSTRY

Abstract

This article examines the implications of the coffee agreement between the government of the Republic of Uganda (GoU) and Uganda Vinci Coffee Co Ltd (UVCCL) on the socio-economic rights of the supply chain players in the coffee industry in Uganda. This article was motivated by the belief that the socio-economic rights of the players in the coffee supply chain would be violated as a result of the monopoly granted to UVCCL in Uganda’s coffee industry. The article shows that the GoU-UVCCL agreement violates international human rights instruments as well as the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 (the Constitution) and other statutes. The article recommends that stakeholders should be consulted in any GoU undertaking that directly affects their socio-economic rights such as the GoU-UVCCL agreement, GoU should observe its commitments under international law and GoU should strengthen the legal and institutional framework to uphold citizens’ socio-economic rights in Uganda.