By Rosette Nandutu,

The Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Tourism and Industry has summoned individuals and entities behind the endorsement of the controversial coffee deal to explain their role in the agreement government signed with Uganda Vinci Coffee Company Ltd (UVCC), a private company that was granted exclusive rights to sell and market Ugandan coffee on the international market.

Those summoned to appear before the committee include Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, Italian investor Enrica Pinetti, and Mr Ramathan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary of the Finance ministry. 

Mr Kasaija is said to have signed the deal on behalf of the government while Mr Ggoobi is alleged to have witnessed the signing of the controversial deal in February and Ms Pinetti signed on behalf of Uganda Vinci Coffee Company.

Others are the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Trade minister Francis Mwebesa, Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze, and the Solicitor General.  

All those invited are expected to appear before the committee on April 25 and April 26.  

Last week, the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Among, instructed the Trade committee to probe the controversial coffee deal however It is not clear as to when the committee will report back to Parliament.