Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to building a globally competitive coffee sector through increased production, improved quality, enhanced traceability, sustainability, value addition and stronger access to international markets during its inaugural participation in the 17th Swiss Coffee Trade Association (SCTA) Forum and Dinner in Montreux, Switzerland. Led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Uganda’s Permanent Mission in Geneva, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and Private Sector actors in the Uganda Coffee Sector were welcomed to the Association
The Ugandan delegation was led by Hon. Desire Muhooza, Minister of State for Agriculture, Rtd. Maj. Gen. David Kasura-Kyomukama, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Mr. Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Uganda’s participation, under the theme “Brewing Trust: Traceability, Sustainability and Value Addition in Uganda’s Coffee Journey,” provided a unique opportunity to present the country’s coffee transformation story to some of the world’s leading coffee traders, investors and industry stakeholders.
The Swiss Coffee Trade Association (SCTA) is one of the most influential organizations in the global coffee trade, representing more than 40 companies involved in green coffee trading and accounting for over 50 percent of global coffee export volumes. The association serves as a key platform for collaboration across the international coffee industry and promotes best practices in sustainability, trade and responsible sourcing.
Opening Uganda’s engagement, Hon. Desire Muhooza emphasized that coffee remains central to Uganda’s economic transformation and rural livelihoods.
“Coffee is not simply a crop for Uganda. It is deeply embedded in our economy, our history, our culture and the livelihoods of millions of households. It represents a national commitment and a long-term ambition to produce more, produce better and share Uganda’s coffee excellence with the world.”
The Minister highlighted Uganda’s remarkable progress over the past decade, with coffee exports increasing from approximately 3.6 million bags in 2017 to more than 8.3 million bags in 2025.
“This transformation is not merely a story of increased volumes. It reflects Uganda’s emergence as a dependable and significant coffee origin in the international market, driven by deliberate government investments in farmer support, productivity improvement, quality enhancement and market development.”
She noted that government interventions, including the distribution of free coffee seedlings, farmer training, subsidized fertilizers, extension services, rehabilitation and replanting programmes, have significantly contributed to the expansion and modernization of the sector.
The Minister also highlighted the expansion of coffee cultivation beyond traditional growing regions.
“Our goal is to ensure that more Ugandans participate in and benefit from the coffee economy. By expanding production into Northern and Eastern Uganda, we are broadening opportunities for farmers while strengthening the country’s production base for future growth.”
Addressing the forum, Rtd. Maj. Gen. David Kasura-Kyomukama underscored Uganda’s commitment to transparency, sustainability and compliance with evolving international market requirements.
“Uganda’s coffee industry is built on the efforts of millions of smallholder farmers. Building traceability at this scale is a significant undertaking, but it is essential for developing a modern, transparent and competitive coffee sector.”
The Permanent Secretary noted that Uganda is implementing systems to support traceability and compliance with international requirements, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and expressed confidence that substantial progress will be achieved in farmer mapping and registration ahead of implementation timelines.
“We are not pursuing traceability solely because international markets require it. We are doing so because transparency, sustainability and accountability are fundamental to the future competitiveness of Uganda’s coffee sector. Trust begins with knowing where our coffee comes from and being able to demonstrate how it is produced.”
He added that Uganda’s coffee industry is increasingly focused on sustainability and climate resilience as essential pillars for long-term sector growth.
Beyond production, Uganda used the forum to showcase its efforts to improve quality, strengthen processing, grading, inspection and quality assurance systems, and create greater value throughout the coffee value chain.
The country’s vision is to build stronger recognition for Ugandan coffee in international markets, where buyers can identify not only the product, but also its origin, quality and sustainability credentials.
“We want buyers to say: this is Ugandan coffee; this is the region it came from; this is the farmer or cooperative network behind it; this is the cup profile; and this is the verified sustainability and traceability story behind the lot.”
Speaking on Uganda’s broader economic transformation agenda, Mr. Joseph Enyimu Commissioner, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development emphasized the significant investment opportunities emerging within the coffee industry.
“Uganda’s coffee transformation is part of a wider national strategy to accelerate economic growth, industrialisation and job creation. Coffee presents significant opportunities not only in production but across processing, manufacturing, branding and export development.”
He noted that Uganda is increasingly focused on capturing greater value from its coffee sector through investment in value addition and market development.
“Our objective is to move beyond exporting raw commodities and create more value across the entire coffee value chain. This presents attractive opportunities for investors looking to partner in Uganda’s growing coffee industry.”
Uganda also promoted the unique identity of its coffee origins, including Fine Robustas renowned for their chocolate, caramel, nutty and spicy flavour profiles, as well as specialty Arabicas from Bugisu, Mount Elgon and the Rwenzori Highlands, which continue to attract growing international interest at the Uganda booth alongside Costa Rica and Colombia.
Mr. Bagiire Waiswa observed that participation in the Forum aligns with Uganda’s broader Economic and Commercial Diplomacy objectives, reflecting inter agency collaboration and reinforces the commitment to transform the coffee industry into a driver of growth and long-term development.
The engagement in Montreux reaffirmed Uganda’s readiness to deepen partnerships with global coffee stakeholders and strengthen confidence in Ugandan coffee. As the sector continues to grow, Government remains committed to productivity, quality, sustainability, traceability, value addition and market access while ensuring that the millions of smallholder farmers who form the backbone of the industry remain at the centre of its development.
Uganda’s long-term ambition remains clear: to build a coffee sector that produces more, produces better, meets international standards, improves farmer livelihoods and positions Uganda as a recognised and competitive coffee origin in the global market.
