Uganda’s coffee sub sector has achieved remarkable growth, culminating in record-breaking achievements for the Financial Year 2023/24. Coffee exports earned an unprecedented US$ 1.14 billion, marking a 6.33% increase in value compared to the previous financial year—the highest revenue in 30 years. This success is a testament to the resilience and dedication of everyone involved in the coffee value chain, along with UCDA’s effective regulation. Uganda exported 6.13 million bags of coffee, an impressive rise from the 5.8 million bags in FY 2022/23, which brought in US$ 846 million.
In June 2024 alone, Uganda exported 667,037 kg of coffee valued at US$ 162.36 million, significantly contributing to the annual total and proving that the US$ 1.5 Billion by 2030 target of the Coffee Roadmap is achievable.
As we celebrate these milestones, our focus now turns to the future. Ensuring sustained growth and development is paramount. We will provide continuous training and support for farmers on best agricultural practices and sustainable farming methods to boost the quality and quantity of coffee produced. We also encourage value addition across the value chain, from the farm to the roasted and packaged coffee, to capture more value within the country and increase revenue.
In addition, Uganda is preparing to comply with the new EU deforestation regulation. This regulation, aimed at preventing deforestation linked to agricultural products,
requires stringent adherence to sustainability standards. Uganda is committed to aligning its coffee production practices with these regulations, ensuring that our coffee is not only of the highest quality but also environmentally sustainable. This compliance will not only secure our access to the European market but also reinforce our commitment to sustainable development.
UCDA is rolling out the Geospatial M&E System and Coffee Farmer Registration App which automates registration of coffee farmers, extension management, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting activities. The App allows for comprehensive data collection on coffee farmers, including location, farm details, along with coffee variety and type. This is in line with the National Coffee Act 2021 which mandates UCDA to establish a coffee farmers registry and traceability system.
As Uganda looks to emerging markets to diversify its global reach, UCDA is engaging buyers in Türkiye and Denmark, where UCDA recently participated in two highly attended expos - the COFFEX Istanbul Coffee Expo, where Uganda was the focus country, and the World of Coffee 2024 Expo in Copenhagen.