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It is with great pride and optimism that I address all stakeholders in Uganda’s coffee value chain following a historic performance in the Financial Year 2023/24. Uganda’s coffee subsector has reached a pivotal milestone, earning a record-breaking USD 1.14 billion in export revenue and exporting 6.13 million bags of coffee an achievement unmatched in the past 30 years. These results are not only a testament to the hard work and resilience of our farmers, processors, exporters, and development partners, but also a reflection of the strong institutional foundation laid by the former Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).

As you are aware, UCDA has now been integrated into the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), in line with the Government's decision under the Rationalization of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX) framework. This reform aims to streamline service delivery, eliminate duplication, and enhance efficiency across government functions. I want to assure all stakeholders that the functions and mandate of the former UCDA—particularly in promoting, regulating, and supporting the coffee industry—remain a strategic priority under MAAIF.

As we celebrate the outstanding growth of the coffee sector, our focus now turns to sustaining momentum and unlocking further potential. The Ministry is committed to the following priorities:

  1. Enhancing Productivity and Quality: We will scale up farmer training, extension support, and access to inputs to boost yields, quality, and resilience against climate-related risks. Sustainable farming practices will remain at the heart of our extension services.
  2. Promoting Value Addition: The Ministry will intensify support for domestic value addition to maximize earnings, create jobs, and ensure that more value is retained within our borders—from green bean processing to roasting and packaging for both local and export markets.
  3. Strengthening Traceability and Compliance: As global market requirements evolve, especially under the new EU Deforestation Regulation, Uganda is proactively aligning its coffee production systems to meet international sustainability standards. Compliance will secure Uganda’s market access and enhance our reputation as a responsible coffee origin.
  4. Leveraging Technology and Data: The rollout of the Geospatial Monitoring & Evaluation System and Coffee Farmer Registration App will revolutionize how we manage coffee development. These innovations will improve farmer profiling, traceability, and decision-making across the value chain, as mandated under the National Coffee Act, 2021.
  5. Expanding Market Access: Uganda continues to explore new and emerging markets for its coffee. The recent participation at the COFFEX Expo in Türkiye and the World of Coffee Expo in Denmark, where Uganda featured prominently, signals our commitment to diversifying export destinations and promoting Uganda as a premium coffee origin.

As we transition into this new phase of institutional integration, I call upon all stakeholders to continue working closely with the Ministry to build on the successes of the past and to drive Uganda’s coffee sector to even greater heights. The goal of reaching USD 1.5 billion in coffee export earnings by 2030 is within reach—together, we can achieve it.

Let us continue to champion Uganda’s coffee as a symbol of quality, resilience, and sustainability.

For God and my Country

Hon. Frank Tumwebaze,

Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries