This year, International Coffee Day will be celebrated on Thursday, 3rd October at Gulu University in Gulu City under the theme – Exploring the Unique Coffees from Northern Uganda.

The 2024 Coffee Day celebrations will spotlight government’s interventions to promote coffee growing in Northern Uganda for socio-economic transformation. Additionally, we aim to showcase the opportunities along the coffee value chain, promote sustainable coffee production, provide educational opportunities through interactive sessions, and facilitate networking within the coffee community to encourage collaboration and growth.

The National Coffee Day Celebrations bring together different actors in the coffee value chain including large and small scale farmers, processors, roasters, exporters, MDAs and development partners.

Since 2014, 1st October has been officially recognised as the International Coffee Day (ICD) worldwide. For Uganda, the International Coffee Day is celebrated on the first Thursday of every October to coincide with the new coffee year. This annual event acknowledges the cultural significance and economic impact of coffee and is organised by Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) in partnership with the private sector through the Uganda Coffee Federation (UCF).

Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) in partnership with aBi, met and updated coffee value chain actors on Wednesday 21st August 2024 on ongoing efforts to comply with the European Union Regulation for Deforestation-free Products (EUDR).

The EUDR aims to ensure supply chains remain free from products that cause deforestation or forest degradation. The regulation will be implemented retrospectively and commodities like coffee, cocoa, cattle, palm oil, soy, timber and rubber as well as derived products (such as beef, furniture, or chocolate) that were planted on deforested land from 2021 will not have access to the EU market.

“The regulation requires that exporters of commodities such as coffee, cocoa, and their derivatives submit specific documents to export to the EU market. Coffee planted on deforested land after December 2020 will not access the EU market,” Dr. Gerald Kyalo, Director Development Services, UCDA, noted.
To beat the December 2024 deadline, UCDA is working with various partners and stakeholders including International Trade Centre (ITC), aBi Development, Uganda Coffee Federation, Café Africa, and UNDP, as well as exporters, traders, farmers, and Government ministries and agencies to ensure industrywide EUDR compliance.

“We commend the partners who have committed time and funds towards the design and implementation of the National Action Plan for compliance with the EUDR and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D). This plan was developed through a collaborative effort that involved the private sector, public institutions, and civil society organisations. We appreciate the members of the task force co-chaired by UCDA which has spearheaded this initiative,” Dr. Kyalo added.

Since the plan was validated in March this year, several other meetings have been held, including a stakeholder meeting to mobilise funding to implement it. The first support came from the Government of Uganda allocation of UGX 13.9 billion, in the 2024/25 budget, to establish the National Traceability System.

Additional funding from aBi and the UNDP will focus on setting up a coordination unit to manage the EUDR compliance process, implementation of a stakeholders’ awareness campaign, and farmer registration.

According to Moses Nyabila, CEO of aBi Development Ltd, the organisation has allocated UGX 16 billion to the coffee sub-sector for EUDR compliance activities.

“Our target is to have 1 million farmers registered and geo-located by the end of the year. We want to ensure that farmers continue to trade and the quality of the coffee reflects in the price they get from buyers,” Nyabila said.

During the meeting, UCDA congratulated all the stakeholders on the excellent export performance in July 2024. Coffee exports in July 2024 amounted to 821,593 60kg bags worth US$ 210.48 million. This is the highest export figure in Uganda’s history.

Coffee remains one of the leading foreign exchange earners, and exports for the last twelve months (August 2023-July 2024) totaled 6.3 million 60kg bags worth US$ 1.25 billion.

In 2023/24, coffee exports were 6.13 million bags valued at US$ 1.144 Billion in 2023/24. This was an increase of 6.33% in volume and 35.29% in value compared to FY 2022/23 when exports were 5.8 million bags valued at US$846 million.

Due to effective regulation by UCDA, coffee quality has greatly improved and this has resulted in high prices. Currently, farmers are earning the highest prices in 30 years. In FY2023/24, UCDA generated revenue of UGX 82.2 billion and Uganda Coffee is in high demand in global coffee markets for its quality.

With the current trajectory, the Coffee Roadmap target of 20 million 60 kg bags produced by 2030 is achievable. The roadmap signed by H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2017, set a target for foreign exchange earnings of US$ 1.5 billion annually from the US$ 20 million bags.

Uganda Coffee Development Authority is committed to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure a profitable and sustainable coffee industry.

Coffee roasters under their umbrella association, Uganda Coffee Roasters Association (UCRA), have pledged to reshape the Uganda industry by promoting the value addition agenda and driving up domestic coffee consumption. The commitment came at a meeting that members of UCRA held to usher in new leadership at the Uganda Small Scale Industries Association offices in Lugogo.

Martha Wandera, Board Secretary of UCRA and a member on the Uganda Coffee Development Authority Board representing roasters noted that Ugandans need to consume the coffee they grow if the country is to reap maximum returns from coffee.

“We need to take a leaf from Ethiopia who are the top coffee producers in Africa and consume about half of what they produce. What this means is that all this money [from domestic coffee consumption] goes back to their economy,” Ms. Wandera said.

Ms. Wandera added that coffee roasters play a vital role in value addition and if they are to grow the industry, they need to come together and work towards a common goal.
“As roasters, we need to speak with one voice to be able to influence policy, lobby government for resources and grow Uganda’s market share of roasted coffee at both local and international level,” Ms. Wandera said.

The outgoing UCRA Chairperson, Hajj Abasi Kazibwe Musisi popularly known as Nguvu and a founding Member of the association expressed delight at the growth of the association.

“UCRA was founded way back in 2002 with just five members and none of us could have imagined the journey that lay ahead. Our vision then was to bring all coffee roasters together under one umbrella to lobby government and build the coffee industry together,” Hajj Musisi said.

He acknowledged that the old leadership faced numerous challenges and admitted that several setbacks had hindered their activity and engagement. However, Hajj Musisi emphasized that with new leadership, formal registration of the association, and the opening up of membership, a new chapter of growth is beginning for the association.

“The journey began with constituting ourselves into a proper Board. We appointed Ms. Martha Wandera as our Board Secretary and Mr. Tonny Bocana as the Executive Director to enable us complete the assignment. I am therefore very happy to officially announce that UCRA has opened its doors to new members,” Hajj Musisi said as he welcomed both seasoned roasters and newcomers to join the roasters association.

“To the young roasters who have chosen to join us on this journey, I extend my heartfelt gratitude. Your decision to align with UCRA speaks volumes about your commitment to the coffee roasting industry and your belief in the power of working together. As we embark on this new phase together, let us uphold the values of unity, respect, internal democracy, and accountability within our Association,” he noted.

UCRA held its Annual General Meeting on 20th June 2024 and elected the following new office bearers. The officials will serve for a period of one year.

Chairman: Dick Wadada
Vice Chair: Martha Nalubega Wandera
Secretary: Omulangira Mathias Mulumba Suuna
Treasurer: Meddie Ziwa
Youth Rep: Innocent Magezi
Women Rep: Annet Nyakaisiki
International Trade Rep: Martin Nango

In his remarks to members, the Chairman elect UCRA, Dick Wadada, MD DICANA coffee thanked the outgoing committee for their commitment and service to the coffee fraternity and promised that the new team would build on their achievements.

Mr. Wadada emphasized that the committee, during its tenure of office would focus on strengthening areas where the coffee fraternity has been weak such as marketing Uganda’s roasted coffee in international markets and promotion of domestic coffee consumption.

“Uganda is not very visible on the international coffee market and yet we need to be there. Our team will work towards this goal,” Wadada noted.

He also urged farmers to harvest red ripe cherries so as to promote quality coffee and its products. He pointed out that coffee quality starts at the farm and as roasters, to produce high quality coffee, they need to work closely with the farmers to ensure quality from the farm to the cup.

A new state–of-the-art coffee factory in Luweero is set to change the fortunes of farmers, improve coffee quality and drive up value addition.

The factory located in Wobulenzi along the Kampala-Gulu Road was constructed by the Uganda Coffee Farmers Alliance (UCFA) with support from the European Union under the European Union-East African Community Market Access Upgrade Programme (EU-EAC MARKUP).

With a processing capacity of 50 metric tonnes of coffee daily, the factoryserves 24 Cooperatives in Luweero, Nakaseke, Nakasongola and Kayunga and benefits 60,000 households.

According to Tony Mugoya, the Executive Director of UCFA, Luweero grows a lot of Robusta coffee yet farmers have been faced with challenges of post-harvest handling and lack of facilities to process the coffee.

Due to the lack of processing facilities in the area, farmers were forced to sell cherries or kiboko to middlemen which earned them low prices for their coffee.

Limited awareness about coffee quality parameters and little knowledge of the benefits of proper coffee handling in regards to the final prices offered by buyers was a big drawback to farmer incomes.

Mugoya says that with the establishment of a factory in the area, and continuous training of farmers on coffee quality, transformation will follow. He is confident that the farmers will earn more since the factory will help them overcome the majority of the challenges they faced in the past.

“Farmers can now dry their coffee to the right moisture content, bring it to the factory for hulling, bulk it and export it directly to buyers,” said Mugoya.

He added that UCFA has a financing programme that extends credit to farmers who are members of the cooperative at affordable interest rates.

According to Mugoya, access to finance is one of the hindrances in the production of quality coffee since some farmers are forced to harvest and sell unripe cherries to meet household demands.

Mugoya made the remarks during a courtesy visit by officials from the European Union Delegation in Uganda led by Sanne Willems, Head of Sustainable Development. The team also comprised UCDA staff. The visit by the EU was part of activities to assess the achievements of the EU- EAC MARKUP.

Mugoya thanked the EU for the support extended to UCFA which enabled them set up the modern coffee factory in the region. UCFA has a similar plant set up in Mityana also funded by the EU.

The delegates inspected the various sections of the factory and the installed equipment such as the hullers, gravity separator, dryer, husk chamber, coffee laboratory, warehouse among others.

UCFA has also set up a coffee laboratory. Coffee from the cooperatives is roasted, cupped, and profiled before export to match the unique demands of coffee buyers. This level of value addition has enabled farmers to earn more. The lab also serves as a skilling center for youth.

The team visited Kyalugondo Farmer’s Cooperative Society. According to the Chairperson of Kyalugondo Farmers’ Cooperative Society, the newly constructed factory is a critical investment in the area and will transform the livelihoods of the coffee farmers. Kyalugondo is one of the 112 cooperatives that make up UCFA.

A meeting with the cooperative’s leaders provided insight into the impact of value addition at the farm level. The cooperative chairperson introduced the 24 cooperatives under his leadership, illustrating how enhancing coffee quality through better drying practices and expert agronomy had transformed farmers’ lives, increased production and improved market access.

The EU team also visited the UCFA coffee laboratory and cupped some of the Robusta coffees produced by the different cooperatives. According to Mugoya, UCFA has emphasized quality throughout the value chain which will enable farmers earn higher prices/ premiums from the coffee. Cupping coffees at the factory premises is one of the ways to ensure quality before coffee is exported.

The factory brings value addition closer to farmers. It is a one-stop processing center for export-ready coffee. It has a huller, cleaners, graders, colour sorters, gravity separators, a dryer, and warehouses. It is the first in the region with this level of equipment.

About EU-EAC MARKUP

The European Union-East African Community Market Access Upgrade Programme (EU-EAC MARKUP) was an initiative of the EAC Partner States funded by the EU that aimed at addressing both supply side and market access constraints of some of the key export-oriented sectors, with particular focus on exports to the EU and ACP markets. In Uganda, the programme focused on two commodities namely coffee and cocoa.

The general objective of the Project was to contribute to the economic development of Uganda by increasing the value of coffee and cocoa exports to the EU.

Specifically, the project aimed to enhance market access to EU and the East African region by supporting private operators in the coffee and cocoa value chains to improve quality and quantity of the produce and retain premium prices for the same through niche markets. The implementing period for MARKUP was 2018 to 2021.

In Uganda, MARKUP supported six companies, including Uganda Coffee Farmers Alliance (UCFA) through a Matching Grant Scheme. The other companies that benefited from the matching grant scheme were Rubanga Cooperative Union, Ainea and Sons Company Ltd (Cocoa), UGACOF Ltd, New Bukumbi Coffee Processors Limited, and Outspan Agric. Ltd (Cocoa).

The matching grant scheme targeted small and medium enterprises in the coffee and cocoa subsectors to boost production, reduce harvest and post-harvest losses while allowing for increased market access and visibility for the products on the European Union and East African Community markets.

The era of paper based procedures and back and forth movement is out as coffee exporters and value chain actors get enrolled on the Uganda Electronic Single Window.

By the end of July, all coffee export processes will be digital. Exporters will apply for export licenses, contract registrations, pre-shipment inspection requests, loading inspection requests, and CESS payment online, eliminating any delays for export companies.

To enable a smooth transition for exporters to enroll onto the Uganda Electronic Single Window, Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) in partnership with Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) trained coffee exporters over three weeks at the UCDA Boardroom at Coffee House.

The training was open to all coffee exporters.

According to Mr. Nicholas Ssesinde, the Manager Information Systems at UCDA, the system will simplify the export process and save time since exporters do not need to physically come to UCDA to deliver export documents as has been the practice.

The system is simple to use and everything can be handled by a click on a computer. Exporters will upload all the necessary export documents online. The documents will then be verified by UCDA staff who will provide immediate feedback.

“Imagine, in the past, some exporters had to travel long distances to submit export documents to UCDA and in case the documents had issues, the exporter had to travel back. This will be no more. The system eliminates back and forth processes which are a cost to export companies and hindrances to trade,” says Mr. Ssesinde.

Rogers Wasibi, General Manager Mt. Elgon Coffee and Honey Cooperative who traveled from Mbale to attend the training said that the system is a welcome initiative that will ease the way they do business.

“As a newly registered coffee export company, we are glad that this system has come at such a time. We have been having challenges of travelling to Kampala every time we need to conduct business with UCDA. This simplifies the processes,” Wasibi noted.

Uganda’s coffee exports have risen significantly. Uganda’s coffee exports have risen significantly hitting 6.13 million bags worth US$ 1.14 billion for the twelve months (July 2023-June 2024). The growth in exports requires an efficient system that can handle the export demands.

The UESW is a trade facilitation initiative that enables coffee exporters and value chain actors to submit regulatory documents such as contracts, clearance certificates and licenses online. It enhances efficiency and reduces the time taken to clear coffee by enhancing the sharing and exchange of information between private sector stakeholders and UCDA. The system will operate 24/7 providing exporters a seamless service.

The training targeted all coffee exporters and the system once rolled out will enhance efficiency and reduce the time taken to clear coffee.

Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) Board Chair Dr. Charles Mugoya has commended Uganda’s producers and exporters who attended the World of Coffee 2024 expo held in Copenhagen, Denmark, this past June. At this internationally acclaimed expo, attended by over 10,000 people, Uganda proudly showcased its finest coffee, highlighting the exceptional quality and rich flavors that distinguish Ugandan coffee on the global stage.

Our participation in the World of Coffee 2024 has been a remarkable success,” said Dr. Mugoya. “Ugandan coffee continues to capture the attention and admiration of coffee enthusiasts and industry experts worldwide. The connections made and insights gained here will undoubtedly propel our coffee industry to new heights.”

The expo provided an invaluable platform for Uganda’s coffee producers and exporters to connect with industry leaders, foster new business relationships, and gain insights into the latest trends and innovations in the coffee sector.

Uganda’s presence at the World of Coffee 2024 not only celebrated the country’s rich coffee heritage but also underscored its commitment to excellence and sustainability in the global coffee market.

Uganda’s ambassador to Denmark, Amb. Margaret Otteskov, visited the Uganda booth during the expo and engaged with UCDA and the private exhibitors. Her presence was not only a show of support but also an opportunity to provide invaluable tips on trade and market penetration to the exporters and producers represented at the expo thus enhancing their ability to navigate and succeed in the competitive global market. Following the expo, Amb. Otteskov further championed Ugandan coffee by hosting an exclusive cupping session at Uganda’s embassy in Denmark. This event offered a unique platform for exhibitors to present their finest brews to a discerning audience, fostering deeper appreciation and interest in Ugandan coffee among international stakeholders and potential partners.

The ambassador’s involvement underscored the strategic importance of diplomatic support in promoting Uganda’s coffee industry on the world stage.

UCDA’s participation in the WOC Expo aimed to promote Uganda’s specialty Arabica and fine Robusta, enhance market access for private sector players, increase Uganda’s visibility as a coffee producer, benchmark with other producers to optimise coffee value addition, improve processing technologies and quality and reducing post-harvest losses. UCDA also aimed to help producers and exporters build relationships and explore business opportunities with industry players and potential investors.

Private Sector Involvement

Under the European Union-East African Community Market Access Upgrade Programme (EU-EAC MARKUP), UCDA hosted several private sector players, including Ankole Coffee Producers Cooperative Union, Mountain Harvest, Gorilla Highlands, Clarke Farm, Gorilla Summit Coffee, Bukonzo Organic Coffee, Rubanga Coffee, and Arabku Export Trading Limited.

These organizations were provided with space to display their coffee and conduct B2B meetings. Other Ugandan exporters and traders who attended the expo under different arrangements included Kawacom, Agri Exim, Agri Evolve, Kibinge Coffee, Coffee Gardens, Zombo Coffee and Tuongeye.

UCDA is a member of several specialty coffee associations, including the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), World of Coffee (WOC), African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA), and Specialty Coffee Association of Japan (SCAJ), among others. These associations organize annual expos that attract specialty coffee buyers from around the world, seeking to source specialty Arabica and fine Robusta from various origins.

Uganda Coffee Booth Activities

During the exhibition, UCDA organised cupping sessions to present coffees from various Ugandan producers to potential buyers. Winning coffees from the Best of the Pearl 2024 Arabica and 2023 Robusta competitions were featured. Impressed buyers received green samples to taste with their teams at their roasteries, along with the producers’ contact information.

Additionally, two brew bars allowed attendees to sample Uganda’s exceptional coffees. The UCDA- operated brew bar featured specialty Arabica and fine Robusta coffees brewed using espresso and pour- over methods, while Mountain Harvest’s brew bar showcased its award-winning coffees from the Best of the Pearl competitions. Most visitors were particularly interested in Uganda Robusta, praising its smooth, clean cup and chocolate notes, and they also commended the naturally processed Arabica from the Elgon and Kigezi regions.

Business-to-business meetings

between producers/exporters and potential buyers were held to discuss export logistics. The team provided valuable information about Ugandan coffee, exporters, and investment opportunities through engaging interactions and promotional materials including QR codes for easy access to relevant details. The exhibitors educated visitors on the unique qualities of Ugandan coffee, such as its diverse flavor profiles and sustainable farming practices, and highlighted investment opportunities in the Ugandan coffee industry.

On the sidelines of the expo, UCDA was represented at the various workshops and lectures. Dr. Gerald Kyalo, Director Development Services, participated in a panel discussion on child labour. His discussion focused on Government’s priorities in line with this and on ensuring compliance to the EU regulations - European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D).

Some of the Government priorities that Kyalo listed include increasing traceability in the value chain to promote decent work, sensitizing all stakeholders on the downside of child labour and a concerted effort by all on sustainability to advance social justice. Kyalo also noted that Uganda is taking significant steps to comply with EUDR and CS3D and has set up a national task force which has since developed an action plan. Transparency and due diligence are key and require a collaborative effort, he noted.

Overall, Uganda’s participation in the World of Coffee Expo was a crucial step in promoting the country’s coffee as well as gaining insights into industry best practices and new technologies to enhance the quality and value of Uganda’s coffee exports.

As Uganda looks to emerging markets to diversify its coffee buyers, Türkiye promises to be an excellent market following overwhelming interest in Uganda Coffee at this year’s COFFEX Istanbul Coffee Expo, where Uganda was the focus country.

Coffee exports to Türkiye have been on the rise in the recent past growing from 2,260 bags in 2019 to 44,019 bags in 2023. This is set to rise further following a successful promotion campaign in Türkiye led by Uganda Coffee Development Authority and Uganda’s Embassy in Ankara at the COFFEX International Coffee expo.

Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony held at the Halic Congress Center in Istanbul, Eunice Kabibi, UCDA Board Secretary and Head of Legal Services thanked the organizers for selecting Uganda to be the focus country at the premier event.

“Uganda is honoured to be the Focus Country at the Coffex Istanbul 2024. This is a testament to the undeniable trust and optimism in our coffee industry. Coffex Istanbul is the biggest international trade fair and promotion platform for coffee in the Middle East and offers our coffee producers and exporters new investment opportunities and trade connections with the Turkish and Middle East markets,” Ms. Kabibi noted.

“I wish to thank the Turkish Government, the CEO of COFFEX, Niyazi Coşkunsoy, and his entire team or this magnificent space where coffee producers, buyers, and lovers are going to meet, showcase different coffee cultures, and do business,” she added.

During the 4-day event, the potential of Ugandan coffee in Türkiye became evident with an overwhelming number of buyers linking up with Ugandan coffee exporters. The buyers made inquiries about procedures to import Uganda coffee, and the profiles and called on UCDA to set up a liaison office in the country where they can buy Uganda coffee directly.

Pison Kukundakwe, Principal Quality Officer at Ankole Coffee Producers Cooperative (ACPCU), one of the exporters that attended the EXPO noted the huge opportunity in the Turkish coffee market and called for a greater presence of Uganda players in the market to capture the demand.

“There is increasing demand for coffee especially Robusta. A number of buyers are ready to buy coffee and have revealed that Robusta is a big thing in the Turkish market. For Uganda, which is one of the largest producers of Robusta, this is a big opportunity to capture the market,” Kukundakwe said.

He also noted that Uganda needs more presence in Türkiye to meet the demand and compete favourably against already established origins.

“Buyers need to keep seeing us at such expos so that we can build credibility for our companies. Demand here is high and it is important to have a link or an address within Türkiye where someone can find our coffee if they want 20, 50 or 100 bags,” Kukundakwe noted.

However, Mr. Kukundakwe pointed out that the buyers prefer to pay after the coffee has reached a port in Istanbul rather than Free on Board (FOB) and added that this may be a challenge for some of the Ugandan exporters to bear all the charges. He noted that by building relationships with the buyers, doing business will become easier. Other Uganda coffee exporting companies that participated in the expo were Gorilla Summit Ltd, Ideal Commodities Ltd and In-Touch Trading Ltd.

Mr. Julius Mwijutsya, the Counselor in charge of Economic and Commercial Diplomacy at the Uganda Embassy Ankara said that Türkiye offers a significant opportunity for Ugandan coffee exporters, with its large population and growing economy.

“Given Türkiye’s economic potential and Uganda’s goal to expand its coffee exports, we concentrated on establishing a strong presence in the Turkish market. Our efforts yielded impressive results, with coffee exports from Uganda to Türkiye increasing from 2000 bags in 2019 to 44,000 bags in 2023.”

Tapping into the Türkiye coffee market

Türkiye is one of the countries experiencing a rapid rise in coffee consumption driven by shifting trends as more people especially the youth switch from drinking tea to coffee.
Annual coffee consumption per capita in Türkiye has increased fourfold and reached 1.5kg today from 350g ten years ago. Demand for both specialty and commercial coffees is growing and Uganda’s growing coffee volumes can sustainably meet the demand.

During a panel discussion, Veronica Najjemba, the Value Addition and Promotions Manager, UCDA pointed out the unique attributes of Uganda coffee to coffee buyers and urged importers to consider Uganda as a source of high-quality Robusta and Arabica coffee to match the growing demand for coffee in Türkiye.
Ms. Najjemba represented Uganda on a panel discussion that had Nesli İbrahim – Henson Coffee Ethiopia, Stephanie Garcia – Guatemalan Coffees and Dr. Muhammad Reza Hani – Ceh Agro Indonesia.

Data shows overall coffee consumption has quadrupled since 2012, while coffee imports jumped 193% between 2008 and 2019 according to the International Coffee Organization (ICO). International brands are also investing heavily in the Turkish market. Turkish branded coffee shops grew 9% in 2022-2023 and 7.3% over the last 12 months to exceed 3,100 stores. Türkiye’s branded coffee shop market is among the fastest-growing by outlets in Europe.

According to Judith Engena, a Quality Assurance Officer at UCDA, Türkiye is a growing market for Uganda coffee that exporters should focus on.

“The Turkish people have shown a lot of love for Uganda coffee and it can become a key export destination among the emerging markets. If exporters can penetrate the Turkish market as they try to get into China, it will be a big win for Uganda,” Engena noted.

Cupping Uganda Coffee

UCDA held cupping sessions for importers and café owners to assess the flavor profiles of Uganda coffee and identify those preferred by the Turkish market. Cupping helps buyers identify Ugandan coffees that match the taste profiles of the Turkish market.

“During the cupping, I realized the people liked specifically washed and specialty Arabica because they found the coffees to have complex flavours. The intrinsic attributes stood out,” Engena noted.

Demand for specialty coffee is high. Türkiye’s coffee market has moved in step with surging demand for premium and specialty coffee around the world. As a result, both domestic and international coffee brands, such as Starbucks, have increased their investments in the country.

According to the world coffee portal, an information platform for the global coffee industry, distinct demographics are shaping Türkiye’s evolving coffee landscape, with age, locale, and even class, underpinning consumption patterns. Major city centres, popular with young and educated Turks with a global outlook, have seen specialty coffee shops thrive.

Conversely, traditional Turkish coffee maintains a stronghold in the more conservative Anatolian regions and smaller cities, where its cultural significance, strong flavour and affordability remain popular.

The traditional areas can become a top destination for Uganda’s Robusta coffee which is often used to blend other coffees to enhance their flavor.
In 2022, Türkiye imported $412M in coffee, becoming the 21st largest importer of coffee in the world. Türkiye imports coffee primarily from Brazil ($246M), Netherlands ($29.7M), India ($27.9M), Germany ($19.9M), and Bulgaria ($12.5M).

Centre of excellence for machinery

Apart from the high demand for green beans, the Turkish market is an excellent source of machinery and coffee-related equipment. Türkiye is a major producer of roasting and brewing equipment that Ugandan value chain actors should consider.

The Government of Uganda is committed to register all coffee farmers and have the National Traceability System in place so as to comply with the European Union Regulations on deforestation-free products (EUDR), Dr Emmanuel Iyamulemye, the Managing Director at Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), has revealed.

Iyamulemye says the National Coffee Register as provided for in the National Coffee Act 2021, will be a precursor to the creation of a National Traceability System (NTS) aligned with European Union Regulations on deforestation-free products (EUDR) requirements.

The register will assign unique identifiers and geolocations to all coffee farms.

Iyamulemye says Government through the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development is committed to register farmers in a phased manner.

“The exercise requires up to US$9.15m (Shs35.6bn). The Ministry of Finance has committed to provide up to Shs13bn in the 2024/25 Financial Year towards farmer registration and the National Traceability System,” Iyamulemye said, adding that further funds will be provided in subsequent years.

Iyamulemye was speaking at a stakeholders meeting held at Serena Hotel on Tuesday to validate the National Action Plan for compliance with the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and EU regulations on deforestation-free products (EUDR) in the coffee value chain.

The meeting was organized by UCDA, in partnership with International Trade Centre and the Uganda Coffee Federation.

To comply with EUDR requirements, Iyamulemye says, Uganda is using the Territorial Approach (TA) in the short run so as to make the country as a whole compliant.

This approach is not a farmer registration system as no farmer data is collected. It is not a coffee traceability system either.

The TA is based on the premises that; coffee production is not a main driver of deforestation. All coffee polygons (including non-compliant ones) can be identified using High Resolution (HR) maps and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Once non-compliant plots are remediated, the territory (country) is compliant in its entirety.

“We are now engaging the EU to accept the Territorial Approach because the deadline is so short (31st December 2024) for us to have the national register and the National Traceability System where each farmer will have a unique code,” Iyamulemye said.

He said many coffee producing countries including Vietnam, Ethiopia, Peru, Guatemala and Tanzania among others are looking at the Territorial Approach in the short run to comply with EUDR requirements.

“We have to show that there’s something we are doing to comply with EUDR requirements,” he said, adding: “Roasters in the EU want Uganda to be compliant with EUDR requirements because our coffee is of very high quality.”

Iyamulemye revealed that there are already private companies doing voluntary certification and registration of farmers they deal with.

“These farmers get a premium price. We should focus on producing very high quality coffee and comply with all the regulations. Once we do that, the price will even be higher,” he said.

Sanne Willems, the Team Leader Green Transition & Private Sector from the Delegation of the European Union to Uganda, said EUDR is good because it aims to reduce deforestation and address climate change crisis the world is facing.

“Climate change has its impact on coffee production. In certain areas, it’s too hot to produce coffee. We all agree that the background of this legislation is a good one,” Willems says, adding that over 60% of Uganda’s coffee exports go to the EU market.

“The EU market is the biggest for Uganda coffee at the moment and it’s important (for Uganda) to keep it. It’s not so easy to start exporting to other new markets,” she says, adding that the responsibility to ensure coffee exported from Uganda is compliant is with the importers in the EU.

Speaking at the same event, Robert Nangatsa, the Extension Manager at UCDA, said the Traceability System will fundamentally change the coffee sub-sector.

“Once we roll out the Traceability System, how we trade coffee will change significantly. A trader will be required to trace coffee back to the plot where it was grown. Each farmer will be registered in the National Coffee Registry, as per the Coffee Act,” Nangatsa said.

On 5th December 2022, the European Parliament approved a regulation for deforestation-free products to ensure supply chains remain free from products that cause deforestation.

Under the Deforestation Regulation, only products that are legal in the country of production and not linked to deforestation and forest-degradation after 31 December 2020 can be placed on the EU market. The regulation which takes effect on 1st January 2025 requires that exporters of commodities such as coffee, cocoa and their derivatives must submit specific documents to export to the EU market. The regulation sets specific criteria for products imported into and exported out of the EU market to be deforestation-free.

Additionally, the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) compels companies to undertake mandatory due diligence to identify and address human rights abuses and environmental damage in their global value chains.

Source: www.businessfocus.co.ug

The Coffee Quality Institute (CQI), the world’s leading body in coffee quality training and certification, has awarded Q Venue recognition to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). The UCDA Coffee Laboratory is now internationally recognized as a center of excellence for coffee quality assessment and allows UCDA to offer Q Arabica and Q Robusta training, especially to the youth interested in building a career in the coffee industry.

This milestone reaffirms our commitment to improving the quality of Uganda coffee, promoting value addition, and driving positive change in the coffee industry.

Support to industry growth

Locations certified with Coffee Quality Institute let the world know that they meet international standards. The Q Venue provides a consistent, predictable learning environment where educators know that they will have the tools and space they need to deliver courses that maintain international standards.

The Q venue supports the certification of Q Arabica and Q Robusta graders who are highly specialized coffee professionals who are able to speak the same language with other professionals internationally with regards to coffee quality. They are able to differentiate specialty Arabica and Fine Robusta coffees that are sought for in specialty markets thus fetching premium prices. These will be able to advise farmers on how to improve quality of their coffees and benefit from these niche markets.