Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) will hold the finals of the National Barista Championship and the 8th National Cup Tasters Championship tomorrow at MOTIV, Kampala, Uganda. 

The National Barista competition focuses on promoting excellence in coffee and advancing the barista profession. The championship seeks to identify the best baristas with the best skills and craftsmanship to make the best coffee beverages.  

Held annually, the competition has been on a break since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. 

Despite the break, the 2023 edition saw a great turn-up of competitors in the preliminary rounds. 43 competitors participated in the preliminary round and 16 qualified for the semifinals.

The overall winner of the Uganda National Barista Champion represents Uganda at world coffee events such as the Africa Barista Championship and World Barista Championship (WBC) that are conducted during the Specialty Coffee Association Conferences, African Fine Coffee Association Conference and World Coffee Events (WCE) in Europe. 

The winner of the Barista Championship will represent Uganda at the World Barista Championship in South Korea. 

Uganda’s participation in global coffee championships provides a platform for showcasing and marketing Uganda's coffee. It also gives visibility for Uganda as a coffee-producing country and markets it as an origin of specialty Arabica and Fine Robusta.

Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) will hold the finals of the National Barista Championship and the 8th National Cup Tasters Championship tomorrow at MOTIV, Kampala, Uganda. 

The National Barista competition focuses on promoting excellence in coffee and advancing the barista profession. The championship seeks to identify the best baristas with the best skills and craftsmanship to make the best coffee beverages.  

Held annually, the competition has been on a break since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. 

Despite the break, the 2023 edition saw a great turn-up of competitors in the preliminary rounds. 43 competitors participated in the preliminary round and 16 qualified for the semifinals.

The overall winner of the Uganda National Barista Champion represents Uganda at world coffee events such as the Africa Barista Championship and World Barista Championship (WBC) that are conducted during the Specialty Coffee Association Conferences, African Fine Coffee Association Conference and World Coffee Events (WCE) in Europe. 

The winner of the Barista Championship will represent Uganda at the World Barista Championship in South Korea. 

Uganda’s participation in global coffee championships provides a platform for showcasing and marketing Uganda's coffee. It also gives visibility for Uganda as a coffee-producing country and markets it as an origin of specialty Arabica and Fine Robusta.

Kampala, 10th October 2023 – The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) announces the reopening of all primary coffee factories in the Greater Mukono, Greater Luwero, and Busoga regions, effective Wednesday, 11th October 2023. These factories had been temporarily sealed to facilitate the natural ripening of coffee cherries at the farms.

Coffee traders, farmers, and processors are urged to adhere to coffee regulations. Specifically, they are required to hull well-dried coffee, harvest only ripe cherries, and implement proper post-harvest practices to ensure high-quality coffee production and comply with the Coffee law.

The collaboration and cooperation of all stakeholders is required to ensure that the quality of Ugandan coffee is sustained.

6th September 2023, Kampala – The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and Uganda Coffee Federation have today released the final scores of the Best of the Pearl Robusta Competition 2023 with Ankole Coffee Producers Cooperative (ACPCU) and Zigoti Coffee as winners. 

Ankole Coffee Producers Cooperative topped the Natural Coffee category with a cupping score of 86.25 and the washed coffee category with a cupping score of 83.5. Zigoti Coffee won the Honey Coffee category with a cupping score of 85.5. These are the best robusta coffees for 2023 and will be showcased to coffee buyers globally.

The competition, organised by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and Uganda Coffee Federation in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Feed the Future Uganda Inclusive Agricultural Markets Activity, run from 29th August – 1st September 2023 at the UCDA Coffee Quality Laboratory. This annual competition helps to identify high-quality producers.

Thirty-six samples of Robusta coffees were cupped, graded, and analysed by a panel of qualified and experienced local judges led by Brenda K Mangeni, the Head Judge, and Clare Rwakatogoro, Veronica Najjemba, Fidel Bakomeza, and Jacob Baterierega. The judges used the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) Fine Robusta score sheet and protocols to identify and select the best Robusta coffees from across Uganda. 

Zigoti's honey coffee profile was Rasin, Cocoa, Black Currants, Winey, Vanilla, and Coffee Blossom. ACPCU's natural coffee profile was Coffee Blossom, Mixed Berries, Winey, Raisin, and Tangerine. ACPCU's honey coffee profile was Coffee Blossom, Butter, Chocolate, Honey, Mango Nectar and Hints Of Berries. 

Uganda is the birthplace of Robusta coffee. With increased coffee quality comes higher earnings for farmers and the country. 

The Government of Uganda through Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) is implementing the Coffee and Cocoa Development Project (CoCoDEV) under Inclusive Green Economy Uptake (GreenUp) Financing Agreement of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF).

UCDA will utilize part of the funds under CoCoDEV project to implement a matching grants scheme to support farmers to establish production units of coffee and cocoa.

The objective of the Matching Grant Scheme (MGS) is to stimulate and promote sustainable commercial- production and productivity in the coffee and cocoa value chain.

Deadline for submission of applications is 30th September 2023.

Eligibility criteria: To be considered for funding, the applicant must:

1. Be an individual commercial coffee/cocoa farmer, registered private entity, coffee/cocoa cooperative, coffee/cocoa association, coffee /cocoa Community Business Organization/communal group.

2. Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the grant.

3. All applicants should be 18 years and above.

4. Must possess a land suitable for coffee/cocoa production of minimum 10 acres (4 hectares)

5. Legal land ownership/user rights. Land must be free from encumbrances and conflicts

6. Must possess land within the eligible districts

7. Must be willing to use own funds for initial investment in establishment of coffee/cocoa farms.

Eligible Activities: The funding will support the following production related activities include:

1. Procurement of planting materials (seeds, seedlings, clonal cuttings)

2. Carrying out good agricultural practices including climate change adaptation measures (shade trees seedlings and banana suckers)

3. Fertilizers (plant nutrition)

4. Pests, disease and weed management measures (pesticides, fungicides & herbicides)

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Ugandan Coffee brands have been recognized among the world’s best coffees at the 9th International Contest of “Coffees roasted at origin” 2023 competition held in Paris, France.

The winners of the competition were announced on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 in Paris, France.

The competition is organized by the Agency for Valorization of Agricultural Products (AVPA) to enable producers to improve consumer perception of exceptional coffees cultivated and roasted properly by the producers.

AVPA offers an opportunity to producers (individual or organized in associations or cooperatives) who take responsibility for their roasting and roasters located in the countries of production and guarantee the traceability of their coffees, to participate in the contest “Coffees roasted at origin”.

The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) submitted an impressive selection of 15 samples of roasted coffees from Ugandan farmers and roasters to this prestigious contest.

Nearly 200 exceptional coffees/samples spread over 25 countries from four continents took part in the competition.

Winners

Two Ugandan coffee brands won Gold medals; Gorilla Highlands from Bwindi and Sasa Coffee from Mount Elgon area.

Zicofe, Kikobero Coffee and Nucafe received Silver, while Big Gorilla, Dicana Coffee and Sipi Hills won Bronze medals.

Mugamba Organic, Nucafe, Elgon Pride, Gorilla Conservation Coffee and Masha Coffee were also recognized with Certificates of Excellence.

Uganda emerged the best in Africa as 13 of the 15 samples submitted were awarded and recognized. It was followed by Ivory Coast, Ethiopia and Kenya with five, three and two samples recognized and awarded respectively.

Peru, Columbia and Uganda took the first three positions.

Uganda’s remarkable coffees embody the diverse flavors and rich heritage of the country’s thriving coffee industry.

Laura Walusimbi, the Corporate Communications Manager at UCDA, congratulated all the winners of the AVPA “Coffees Roasted at Origin” competition.

“The dedication and hard work that they put into producing such exceptional coffee is commendable. UCDA is mandated to regulate, promote, and oversee the coffee industry and we pledge our full support to all stakeholders. Together, we will elevate Uganda’s outstanding coffee to global recognition,” she said.

Quality improving

The competition organizers say they received fantastic coffee from all over the world and that it was a hard task for jury members to do the tasting and pick the eventual winners.

The AVPA jury consists of six to twelve members. The jury members are French speaking; they are professionals in the coffee industry (producers, roasters, and distributors), chefs, gourmets and discerning consumers.

“The quality of the green coffee that has been used in the selection is really good,” a taster said, adding: “The profile, packaging and the quality has really improved. We are hopeful that the coffees that were recognized with medals get to have the recognition on the market and improve what they are already doing.”

The organizers say that for those who were not awarded, it is a chance for them to improve the quality of their coffee and the roast profile.

A coffee taster, Marilyn Kennedy, appealed to participants to “keep up the good work.”

“We need to elevate the quality of coffee all over the world and you are there to do that and we are here to taste that coffee,” she said.

Premium Prices in the offing

Richard Rugaya, the Founder of Gorilla Highlands, says the Paris event is going to help them achieve premium prices by selling coffee roasted at the origin and that it will help the company and the farmers improve their livelihood and incomes.

Martin Nangoli, the founder and Managing Director of Kikobero Coffee Company Ltd, says the win of a silver medal for Kikobero Coffee was a surprise and is a huge win for Ugandan Specialty coffee.

“Kikobero Coffee was selected and submitted for this competition. The win means a lot for our Ugandan coffee on any shelves anywhere in the world. It means our coffee is of high quality,” Nangoli.

He adds that roasting coffee at the origin is key as it shows that “we are in charge of our roasting profiles.”

“If Uganda competed among 200 coffees from 25 countries and came out with such results, it means a lot in the world of coffee. It’s worth celebrating,” he said.

“We look after our farmers, our coffee, our processors and our producers. We are concerned about every detail from the garden to the cup. This is what sets us apart. This win is setting a challenge for us to look at how to compete against giants like Ethiopia.”

He applauded UCDA for objectively considering and submitting a number of coffee samples from Uganda including Kikobero coffee to showcase their products at such a global event.

The Deputy Director General, International Partnerships at the European Commission, Myriam Ferran, has pledged continued support to Uganda in the coffee and cocoa sub-sectors.

Ferran made the remarks during a visit to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) laboratory in March together with Ambassador Jan Sadek, Head of the European Union Delegation to Uganda, Caroline Adriaensen, Head of Cooperation and Sofian Dahmani from the EC International Partnerships Directorate. The visit was important in kick-starting strengthened cooperation between the European Union and UCDA in implementing the comprehensive value chains approach as part of the coffee and cocoa priority value chains for the Global Gateway in Uganda.

The European Union has been supporting the Ugandan coffee and cocoa value chains through two major projects implemented by UCDA over the past five years. The EU-EAC Market Access Programme (MARKUP) worth EUR 3.638.000 and the Coffee and Cocoa Value Chain Development (CoCoDev) Project in Uganda worth EUR 8 million (UGX 32.8bn) have supported the value chain development from smallholder farmers to certification, among other areas. The implementing period for MARKUP was 2018 to 2021 (with a second phase in the pipeline) while that for CoCoDev is 2022 to 2026.

During the visit, Ferran commended UCDA’s efforts in the coffee and cocoa sub-sectors and called on the Authority to involve refugee-hosting communities in coffee production. This, according to Ferran, would help to improve the lives of refugees and contribute to the inclusive growth of the coffee industry. Sixty-five percent of Uganda’s coffee exports go to the EU, placing the country in a position to compete favorably with other producing countries.

The team was hosted by UCDA’s Managing Director, Dr. Emmanuel Iyamulemye, who took them through a coffee cup-tasting session to appreciate the uniqueness of Uganda’s coffee. Also on display were Ugandan cocoa and cocoa products.

Dr. Emmanuel Iyamulemye, applauded the EU for the financial support, which, he said, is consistent with the Authority’s desire to strengthen cooperation with the EU in order to support the expansion of the coffee and cocoa sub-sectors.

“We have been supporting the private sector to improve their coffee and cocoa standards. [The CoCoDev] project will continue supporting the coffee and cocoa sub-sectors by focusing on commercialisation and providing grants to expand production,” said Dr. Iyamulemye.

Dr. Iyamulemye added that the EU support is also going to improve the cocoa regulatory framework. “For the first time, we are going to have standards for cocoa, and this will enable producers to access even more markets so that they can continue fetching premium prices,” he said.

The European Union’s support of the coffee and cocoa sub-sectors in Uganda is vital for the country’s economic growth. Uganda is known for its high-quality coffee beans and the EU’s continued support will enable the country to increase its production and expand its market reach.

Uganda is the leading exporter of coffee in Africa and the 7th largest producer in the world. With 65% of the coffee exported to the European Union, it is clear that this is an important market for Uganda.

Kisoro, a coffee growing region with potential to produce some of the best Arabica in the country and enable farmers earn big from the lucrative coffee business still lags behind because of bottlenecks such as lack of processing equipment.

This is set to change as UCDA gave out four wet mills to coffee farming communities to support coffee processing, thus increasing the quality and volumes produced.

In March, UCDA Technical Extension Manager, Robert Tumwesigye oversaw the successful installation and operationalisation of a wet mill on Mr. Gerald Ngarama’s coffee farm in Murora sub-county, Kisoro district. The engine-driven wet mill has capacity to process 800kgs of red cherry per hour and will be accessed for free by other coffee farmers in the community.

Ngarama, is one of the recipients of the 35 wet mills procured by UCDA for distribution to coffee farmers across the country in a bid to improve coffee quality and promote production of specialty coffee which fetches a premium price.

Speaking at the launch, Tumwesigye noted that while access to the power grid remains a major challenge in rural areas, the engine-driven wet mill will ensure uninterrupted coffee processing.

Three other recipients of the wet mills are Festus Bahinyuza from Nyabwishenya sub-county, Winnie Bavuga from Nyakabande sub-county and Kenneth Barigye, Nyakabande sub-county.

Memory Akaijuka, the UCDA Regional Extension Officer for Kisoro says that coffee farmers in Kisoro have long struggled to process coffee to the right standard. This has often resulted in poorly processed coffee which fetches low prices on the market.

The installation of the wet mills will make it easy for farmers to pulp the coffee, store it in bulk as parchment and then, later, market it to buyers while maintaining its quality.

Kisoro Arabica coffee is grown on the slopes of Mt. Muhavura in south western Uganda. It has lively acidity, creamy mouthfeel and a sweet flavour with pleasantly lingering aftertaste.

In Kisoro district, about 80,000 farmers are involved in coffee growing with an estimated 4.3 million coffee trees planted mainly in the sub-counties of Nyabwishenya, Nyundo, Nyakabande, Busanza, Murora, Kirundo and Kisoro.

UCDA and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries last year commenced on a program to scale up wet processing to produce commercial volumes in Arabica and Robusta growing areas to attract premium prices.

The growing demand for Ugandan specialty coffee has seen a new entrant into the coffee export business set to increase the visibility of Uganda coffee in Canadian and major European cities.

Lusha, a coffee export company specialising in exporting specialty Arabica coffee to Canada says Uganda coffee has the potential to outcompete other origins in the Canadian and European markets due to its quality and unique attributes. 

The Toronto-based coffee export company which recently obtained an export license from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) will source specialty Arabica coffee from Bududa, on the slopes of Mountain Elgon in Eastern Uganda. This move is set to increase the visibility of Ugandan coffee in Canadian and major European cities and offers a unique opportunity for coffee lovers in Canada, North America and Europe to taste some of the best specialty Arabica coffee that Uganda has to offer.

The demand for specialty coffee has been on the rise globally, and Uganda has not been left behind in this trend. Uganda coffee has a unique flavour profile, with notes of fruit, chocolate, and nutty undertones, making it stand out from other origins. The unique attributes of Ugandan coffee have attracted the attention of coffee enthusiasts and roasters in North America, with Canada being a key market.

According to Randy Paul, ED of Lusha Coffee, Uganda has the potential to be the leading supplier of specialty coffee to cafes and roasters in North America. This statement is not unfounded, as Uganda has already made significant strides in recent years in the coffee industry. Uganda's coffee industry has seen its market share increase in several key markets, and the industry has made significant progress in improving the quality of its coffee beans.

During a recent visit to UCDA, Lusha Coffee's management team was briefed on export procedures, product certifications, and general market trends that dictate the performance of Uganda's coffee trading on the international market. The meeting was led by Dr. Emmanuel Lyamulemye, the Managing Director of UCDA, who emphasized the importance of complying with international standards and regulations, working together to promote Ugandan coffee on the international market, and focusing on quality and sustainability.

Dr. Lyamulemye also shared data on the performance of Uganda's coffee trading on the international market, including market trends and pricing. The data showed that Uganda's coffee industry has faced some challenges in the past, but has made significant progress in recent years, and is now poised to be a leading supplier of specialty coffee to cafes and roasters in North America.

The Executive Director further urged Lusha Coffee to work with qualified professionals to ensure the sourcing of high-quality green coffee beans and to create a relationship with the farmers through community engagements and formations of Agents networks to ensure continuous supply during the year. The Executive Director also emphasized the importance of collaboration between industry stakeholders, the government, and development partners to boost the coffee trade.

Lusha Coffee's entry into the coffee export business is a welcome move for the coffee industry in Uganda and Canada. This move is set to increase the visibility of Ugandan coffee in Canadian cities and offers a unique opportunity for coffee lovers in Canada to taste some of the best specialty Arabica coffee that Uganda has to offer. With the collaboration between Lusha Coffee, UCDA, and other industry stakeholders, Uganda's coffee industry is set to make significant progress in the international market and solidify its position as a leading supplier of specialty coffee.

The Black Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB) attacks crop-bearing branches of mainly Robusta trees causing them to dry. A farmer can lose up to 50% of the coffee yield if they do not manage BCTB on the farm.

The resultant damage from the beetle is higher during the dry season, especially in coffee trees under shade trees, closely planted coffee trees or inadequately pruned or de-suckered coffee.

Damage to coffee

Only female beetles cause damage to the plants by boring into the tissue of the host. They bore through the xylem into the twig pitch where they chew along the axis of the twig to make a common brood chamber for the eggs. The males live up to 6 days and are flightless while the females live up to 58 days.

The entire life cycle, from egg to mature adult, takes 29 days. On the 29th day, the new females exit the parental galleries to establish new ones. Each female hatches between 10 and 30 eggs. The larvae and adults of the borer get food from the symbiosis developed with the ambrosia fungus.

How to Control the Spread of BCTB

Regularly inspect the coffee field to check for any infestation. As soon as the pest is sighted, cut, chop and burn the affected plant parts. Farmers should avoid using musizi and musambya as shade trees. These are alternate host trees of the BCTB.

It is important that farmers use pest-free planting materials from UCDA-certified coffee nurseries only.

The beetle trap developed by the National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) is highly effective in fighting the Black Co ffee Twig Borer. The trap is composed of a transparent plastic bottle, a smaller pharmaceutical bottle, ethanol and a wire or string.

The plastic bottle has two windows on opposite sides. It holds water which drowns and kills the beetle. The smaller bottle, with ethanol in it, is tied with a string and placed in the plastic bottle. The ethanol scent attracts the insect. Once inside the plastic bottle they are trapped by the water in it.

Community approach required

The pests can fly over a very long distance so it will not be helpful if one farmer uses the BCTB traps and others do not. The entire community must take up the technology.

Controlling BCTB

Cut, chop and burn affected plant parts.
Avoid using shade trees such as musizi and musambya. These are alternate host trees for the BCTB.
Use pest-free planting materials from certified coffee nurseries.
Inspect your field regularly to identify any infestation.
 

The National Coffee Research Institute (NACORI) has developed new high-yielding and disease-resistant Arabica varieties that will make Ugandan farmers more competitive at the local and global levels once they are released on the market. The varieties were developed with support from the European Union (EU) under the European Union – East African Community Market Access Upgrade Programme (EU-EAC MARKUP).

“Uganda has been lagging behind in development of new Arabica varieties and this is going to be a landmark for the farmers and the sector,” Dr. Pascal Musoli, a plant breeder and top coffee and cocoa researcher at NACORI revealed.

This was during a meeting with members of the National Steering Committees, who visited the institute located at Kituuza, Mukono to learn how EU-EAC MARKUP has supported Ugandan scientists to carry out research and develop coffee and cocoa varieties to increase production and productivity. The lessons and good practices will be adopted by partner states to help unlock trade and investment opportunities in EAC.

Dr. Musooli noted that the support they received from MARKUP enabled NACORI scientists develop new Arabica varieties whose performance is above 200% of the old types. The new Arabica varieties are also resistant to diseases such as leaf rust and coffee berry disease compared to old varieties.

Under the MARKUP project, NaCORI received support to evaluate and release improved Arabica coffee varieties and carry out preliminary evaluation of cocoa clones. The mandate of NaCORI is to carry out research on coffee and cocoa in Uganda.

All activities related to research under the MARKUP project are implemented by NaCORI under the supervision of UCDA. The MARKUP project supported NaCORI to carry out research in four locations: Zeu in Zombo district, Kyenjojo, Kabale, and Buginyanya (Elgon region).

Dr. Musooli noted that while research was already ongoing into development of new varieties, the funds from MARKUP came at a critical time and made a big difference. According to Dr. Musooli, the new varieties performed above 200% in comparison to the old types and once released to farmers, they will help increase production and productivity for
farmers enabling them earn more.
 

The varieties are resistant to leaf rust and coffee berry disease which is going to reduce the burden on farmers to purchase chemicals to control diseases and pests.