Uganda has stepped up its push to strengthen its position in the global coffee market, showcasing the country’s growing production, traceability systems, sustainability initiatives and value-addition ambitions at a major international coffee forum in Switzerland.
Uganda made its inaugural participation in the 17th Swiss Coffee Trade Association (SCTA) Forum and Dinner in Montreux, where government officials and private-sector players presented the country’s coffee transformation story to international coffee traders, investors and other industry stakeholders.
The Ugandan delegation was led by Minister of State for Agriculture Desire Muhooza, MAAIF Permanent Secretary Rtd. Maj. Gen. David Kasura-Kyomukama, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire Waiswa.
Uganda participated under the theme “Brewing Trust: Traceability, Sustainability and Value Addition in Uganda’s Coffee Journey,” with the delegation using the forum to position Ugandan coffee as a reliable, traceable and increasingly value-added product for international markets.
The SCTA represents more than 40 companies involved in green coffee trading and is described by Uganda as a significant platform in the international coffee trade, with its members accounting for more than half of global coffee export volumes.
Uganda’s coffee exports more than double
Addressing the forum, Minister Muhooza said coffee has become central to Uganda’s economic transformation, rural livelihoods and international trade ambitions.
She highlighted the sharp increase in Uganda’s coffee exports over the past decade, saying volumes had risen from approximately 3.6 million bags in 2017 to more than 8.3 million bags in 2025.
“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,” Muhooza said.
The minister attributed the expansion to deliberate government interventions targeting farmer productivity, quality improvement and market development.
These interventions include the distribution of coffee seedlings, farmer training, subsidised fertilisers, extension services as well as rehabilitation and replanting programmes.
According to Muhooza, Uganda is also expanding coffee production into regions that were previously less prominent in the country’s coffee economy, particularly Northern and Eastern Uganda.
The expansion, she said, is intended to bring more farmers into the coffee economy while increasing Uganda’s production capacity.
“Our goal is to ensure that more Ugandans participate in and benefit from the coffee economy,” she said.
Traceability becomes a major priority
As global coffee markets increasingly demand information about the origin and production conditions of coffee, Uganda is putting greater emphasis on traceability.
Kasura-Kyomukama told the forum that establishing traceability across a sector dominated by millions of smallholder farmers is a major undertaking, but one that Uganda considers essential to maintaining access to international markets.
“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,” he said.
A major focus is compliance with emerging international requirements, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The regulation places greater responsibility on companies placing certain commodities on the European market to demonstrate that their products are not linked to deforestation or forest degradation.
Uganda says it is developing systems for farmer registration and mapping to strengthen the ability to trace coffee from its origin.
Kasura-Kyomukama said the country is confident of making substantial progress in farmer mapping and registration ahead of relevant implementation timelines.
He stressed that Uganda’s traceability drive is not merely a response to pressure from international buyers.
“We are not pursuing traceability solely because international markets require it,” he said.
“We are doing so because transparency, sustainability and accountability are fundamental to the future competitiveness of Uganda’s coffee sector.”
Uganda targets greater value from coffee
Beyond increasing the volume of coffee exported, Uganda is also seeking to capture more value from the commodity through processing, branding, quality assurance and manufacturing.
The government delegation told the Swiss forum that Uganda wants international buyers to be able to identify the precise origin and characteristics of its coffee, rather than treating it simply as an undifferentiated commodity.
The vision includes linking coffee to its geographical origin, farmer or cooperative networks, cup profiles and independently verifiable sustainability and traceability information.
The government also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen processing, grading, inspection and quality assurance across the coffee value chain.
Joseph Enyimu, Commissioner at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, said the coffee sector offers investment opportunities beyond primary production.
He linked Uganda’s coffee strategy to the wider national agenda of economic growth, industrialisation and job creation.
“Coffee presents significant opportunities not only in production but across processing, manufacturing, branding and export development,” Enyimu said.
He added that Uganda wants to move beyond exporting raw commodities and retain a larger share of the economic value generated by coffee.
“Our objective is to move beyond exporting raw commodities and create more value across the entire coffee value chain,” he said.
Uganda showcases Robusta and Arabica origins
At the forum, Uganda also promoted the distinctive characteristics of its different coffee-growing regions.
The country showcased Fine Robusta, with its chocolate, caramel, nutty and spicy flavour profiles, alongside specialty Arabicas from Bugisu, Mount Elgon and the Rwenzori Highlands.
Ugandan coffee was showcased alongside coffee from established producing countries including Costa Rica and Colombia, providing an international platform for Uganda to market its different coffee origins and quality profiles.
The push comes as Uganda seeks to strengthen recognition of its coffee beyond export volumes and establish stronger connections between international buyers and the specific origins and qualities of Ugandan coffee.
Economic diplomacy meets coffee diplomacy
Uganda’s participation was also framed as part of the country’s broader economic and commercial diplomacy strategy.
Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Bagiire Waiswa said the participation demonstrated inter-agency cooperation between government institutions and the private sector while reinforcing efforts to use international engagement to open economic opportunities for Uganda.
The Swiss engagement brings together Uganda’s agriculture and foreign affairs priorities, with the government seeking to use diplomatic platforms to attract investment, deepen market access and strengthen relationships with international buyers.
For Uganda, the broader objective is to transform coffee from a major export commodity into a more integrated economic sector spanning production, processing, manufacturing, branding and international trade.
The government says smallholder farmers will remain at the centre of this transformation as Uganda works to increase productivity while improving quality, sustainability and market access.
The Montreux forum therefore provided Uganda with an opportunity to present its coffee ambitions directly to some of the world’s major coffee trade stakeholders while seeking to build confidence in the country’s ability to supply quality coffee that can meet increasingly demanding international standards.
Uganda’s long-term target is to build a coffee industry that produces more, produces better, demonstrates where its coffee comes from, captures more value locally and strengthens the incomes of the millions of farmers who depend on the crop.
