2024 coffee year earnings hit $1.4 bn record

Peter 29th Oct, 2024 Agriculture Pedson Mumbere
2024 coffee year earnings hit $1.4 bn record

Coffee enthusiasts savour the various flavours of Ugandan coffee at the UCDA stall at the World of Coffee 2024 Expo held in Copenhagen, Denmark, recently. UCDA ably promoted Uganda’s specialty Arabica and fine Robusta coffees.


Uganda’s coffee sector has achieved a historic milestone, with export earnings reaching an unprecedented US$1.4 billion from 6.35 million 60-kg bags in the 2023/24 coffee year, which concluded on September 30.

This figure reflects a significant increase from the previous year’s US$940.1 million from 6.14 million bags, according to the report, which was compiled by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).

While this growth signals a promising trajectory for Uganda's coffee sector, it is also marred by a contentious debate over the proposed dissolution of the UCDA), the regulatory body that has superintend the growth of the country’s coffee industry for over three decades.

  • Even more disturbing is the fact that no concrete action plan has been shared about how the booming coffee industry would be developed and regulated after UCDA is disbanded. Not surprisingly, the proposed move has been met with vehement opposition, particularly from stakeholders and lawmakers representing coffee-growing regions.

Coffee remains Uganda’s top export product, contributing significantly to the country’s economy and providing a livelihood for millions of Ugandans. Members of Parliament from coffee-growing regions argue that dissolving UCDA would undermine the progress achieved through decades of targeted regulation, quality assurance, and farmer support.

According to data from UCDA, nearly 75% of Uganda’s coffee exports were destined for European markets in the coffee year, with Italy, Germany, and Belgium as the primary importers.

  • In the 2023/24 coffee year, Italy imported over 1.5 million 60-kg bags of Ugandan coffee, valued at approximately UGX 1.4 trillion, followed by Germany with about 1 million bags worth UGX 950 billion, and Belgium with 800,000 bags valued at around UGX 760 billion.

This reliance on Europe speaks volumes about the need to ensure strict compliance with EU quality standards, a responsibility expertly managed by UCDA’s rigorous quality protocols.

Regional African markets, including Morocco, Sudan, and Kenya, also rely on Ugandan coffee. Morocco imported around 400,000 bags valued at UGX 360 billion, while Sudan and Kenya collectively imported nearly 300,000 bags, worth approximately UGX 270 billion.

Also among the reasons for the record export earnings, were UCDA’s monitoring and evaluation visits that were also carried out in the coffee growing regions, targeting farmers and other stakeholders. Additionally, numerous radio talk shows were aired across various regions for purposes of sensitisation particularly in regard to the European Union Deforestation Regulations (EUDR), which are due to take effect in January 2025.

Global coffee production is expected to increase by around 7.1 million bags in the 2024/25 coffee year, driven by output recoveries in Brazil and Indonesia. With intensifying competition, stakeholders are worried that Uganda risks losing its competitive edge if UCDA is scrapped.

  • “Our coffee sector’s premium reputation is tightly linked to UCDA’s consistent enforcement of quality and export standards,” notes Ismail Kivumbi, a coffee farmer and analyst. “Any compromise in quality could damage Uganda’s reputation and affect revenues in this competitive global market.”
  • “The UCDA has been instrumental in establishing Uganda’s coffee on the global market. Dismantling it could erase years of development and jeopardize smallholder farmers' incomes,” says Asinasi Nyakato, the Woman MP for Hoima City.

The coffee sector’s advocates emphasize the need for specialized regulation, as seen in other successful coffee-producing nations.

Florence Kabugho, the Woman MP for Kasese, says; “In successful coffee-producing nations, coffee is regulated by specialized agencies. Uganda must adopt this model to avoid regulatory risks.”

Analysts say that, Uganda’s coffee industry has grown to contribute over 15% of the country’s export earnings, largely due to UCDA’s efforts in quality assurance, training, and market promotion. As the contention around the proposed rationalization continue, stakeholders and policymakers must consider the potential risks to Uganda’s hard-won global reputation as one of the world’s leading producers of premium coffee.

Similar Posts You May Like 

  • Hundreds Tipped on Financial Management

    Hundreds Tipped on Financial Management..

    Hundreds of young people who turned up for season eight of the Men's Business Convention initiative, were tipped on the importance of financial management and record keeping. The three-day training, which was held at Victory Church Ndeeba on Saturday, sought to promote a culture of mentorship among..

  • Younger dairy farmers and increased consumption of UHT milk to spur sector growth

    Younger dairy farmers and increased consumption of UHT milk to spur sector g..

    Uganda's potential and fortunes in the dairy sector can grow significantly if strategies are put in place to attract a younger crop of dairy farmers and with increased investment in long life milk processing and other value added products. Jackline Kittony, the Marketing Director Tetra Pak East A..

  • Optimism as October coffee exports fetch $80 million

    Optimism as October coffee exports fetch $80 million..

    Ugandan coffee exports have continued to show a positive trend with the volume of coffee exported in October amounting to 470,000 sixty-kilogram bags, worth USD 79 million, according to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority...

  • Gov't signs $400m hydrogen fertilizer plant

    Gov't signs $400m hydrogen fertilizer plant ..

    The Government of Uganda has signed a joint agreement with the Aga Khans Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) and Westgass International to set up a green hydrogen fertiliser plant in Kiryandongo District. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ruth Nankabirwa, said..

  • Livelihoods at stake as poor regulation threatens Silverfish, Nile Perch

    Livelihoods at stake as poor regulation threatens Silverfish, Nile Perch..

    Amidst the luminous waters of Uganda lies a precious resource that has sustained thousands of livelihoods over the years-silverfish (Rastrineobola argentea), locally known as Mukene. The small pelagic fish is deeply interwoven with the fabric of the nation's fisheries sub-sector...

  • Coffee exports anxiety after UGX32 bn budget cut

    Coffee exports anxiety after UGX32 bn budget cut..

    The Uganda Coffee Development Authority wants Parliament to intervene following the Government's decision not to provide the UGX32.5 billion required for the establishment of a coffee traceability system in order to protect Uganda's coffee exports to the European Union...

  • Coffee export volumes show slump in March

    Coffee export volumes show slump in March..

    In comparison to the previous month, Uganda's coffee exports recorded a significant decrease in March 2024, according to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority report...

  • EU, Denmark offer UGX66 bn to Ugandan farmers

    EU, Denmark offer UGX66 bn to Ugandan farmers..

    The European Union (EU) and Denmark have announced funding amounting to more than UGX66 billion in a bid to boost agricultural productivity and help Ugandan farmers to withstand the challenges associated with climate change...

  • Activists applaud UGX 516 Bn climate allocation

    Activists applaud UGX 516 Bn climate allocation..

    In a decisive move to address the escalating climate crisis, the Government has earmarked UGX 516 billion for climate change mitigation efforts in the next financial year...

  • Optimism amidst Turkey coffee exports surge

    Optimism amidst Turkey coffee exports surge..

    Ugandan coffee exporters have found a new market in Turkey as coffee producers worldwide brace themselves for new European Union regulations that bar coffee products that are sourced from countries that degrade the environment. ..

  • Optimism as July coffee exports top 800,000 bags

    Optimism as July coffee exports top 800,000 bags ..

    Uganda's coffee exports have surged to new heights, signaling a robust boost to the nation’s economy and a promising future for farmers. ..

  • Ranches Finest commended on quality meat exports

    Ranches Finest commended on quality meat exports..

    State Minister for Investment, Evelyne Anite, has commended Ranches Finest for its sustained production and export of high- quality beef products from Uganda to the global market...

  • aBi Trust gives UCDA UGX16 bn boost

    aBi Trust gives UCDA UGX16 bn boost ..

    As Uganda races to comply with the European Union's new sustainability regulations, a major financial commitment, the Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi) has pledged $4.3 million (about UGX16 billion) to support the registration of coffee farmers, a crucial step in meeting the European Union's Re..

  • Gov't bans purchase of uncertified grain products

    Gov't bans purchase of uncertified grain products..

    Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies and institutions will not be permitted to purchase grain from uncertified suppliers, Evelyn Anite, the state minister for Investment and Privatization, has said...

  • Support beef value addition for export market

    Support beef value addition for export market ..

    Uganda’s agricultural sector is experiencing an intense transformation, with the beef industry emerging as a pivotal force in this evolution. ..

  • Local suppliers protest new grain policy

    Local suppliers protest new grain policy..

    The government's decision to tighten grain procurement rules is stirring mixed reactions among suppliers. While the government says the new regulations aim to improve grain quality, some suppliers are concerned that the costs of meeting these new standards could put them out of business...

  •  August coffee exports set new 838,000 bags record

    August coffee exports set new 838,000 bags record..

    Uganda’s coffee industry soared to new heights in August 2024, earning UGX820 billion from exports, a testament to the country’s increasing prominence in the global coffee market. ..

  • Museveni commissions Royal Milk factory

    Museveni commissions Royal Milk factory ..

    Speaking at the commissioning of Royal Milk factory at Nalukolongo Industrial Park in Kampala recently, the President urged the proprietors to ensure value addition into powder milk for the lucrative export market...

  • Government announces tough export rules to China

    Government announces tough export rules to China..

    The government has introduced stringent regulations that prospective Ugandan exporters must follow if their agricultural products are to be accepted in the lucrative Chinese market...

  • Uganda, South Sudan moot joint dam projects

    Uganda, South Sudan moot joint dam projects..

    Pal Mai Deng, the South Sudanese minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, has submitted a memo to the Council of Ministers, aimed at implementing the Nyimur multi-purpose water and resource development project, a joint trans-boundary initiative aimed at providing water for irrigation and a power ..

Most Recent