Uganda’s high-end coffee seeks markets global and local – “A new thrust to cultivate and promote the much-prized single-origin Arabica coffee, which thrives at high altitudes, could provide a powerful shot for Uganda's coffee sector.”

Although Uganda is believed to have originated the Robusta variety of coffee – now widespread throughout the world – it is Arabica, with its smoothness and rich, full flavour that fetches the best prices in the world’s quality coffee markets.

There has been a dramatic rise in Uganda’s coffee export revenues – it exported 6.26m 60kg bags earning $862.28m in 2022 compared to $559.16m in the previous year. This was the highest figure ever achieved in any one year and has sharpened ambitions to raise the bar even further. The plan is to increase production to 20m bags by 2030 with projected earnings of around $2.5bn.

UCDA, says that value addition in Ugandan coffee either as roasted beans or as instant coffee is vital in promoting the Ugandan brand out into the world. Uganda has struggled to promote its value addition coffee to Western markets due to high taxation fees slapped on value-added coffee. The UCDA is specifically looking to trade in Northern African countries, such as Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria.Primary Coffee Processing Opportunities include - establishing a Central Coffee Washing Station