Adding Value to Uganda’s Fine Coffee

Coffee is Uganda’s top export, and the Uganda Coffee Development Authority is the government agency tasked with managing, promoting, sustaining and expanding the country’s coffee industry.

Managing Director Henry Ngabirano also serves as Uganda’s representative to the International Coffee Organisation and the Inter-African Coffee Organisation. He explains, “The Ugandan Coffee Development Authority is trying to put Ugandan coffee on the map while building the industry from the bottom up.”

The Authority is involved at every level of the coffee industry, from interaction with individual farmers to quality controls, harvesting, producing, adding value, packaging and promotion. Around 80% of Uganda’s coffee is exported to Europe, but Henry Ngabirano expects that this percentage will drop as consumption in the local market grows. He says, “We want to make Uganda a coffee-drinking country.” Uganda aims to boost its coffee production and will continue to export its fine coffee to international markets, including Australia, the US and India, as well as Europe.

A key goal for the Coffee Development Authority is to promote adding value to Uganda’s coffee before it leaves the country. Henry Ngabirano says, “We want to attract foreign investment in roasters and packaging facilities so that we can increase profits for our producers, as well as for investors.”