Between 1990s, early 2000s, 2018–2019 and mid-2024–2024, Uganda’s coffee experienced periodic devaluation in value at the global market, with significant price fluctuations due to reasons ranging from over-supply, market correction, value hemorrhage, weak value to among other challenges.
By October 2025, Uganda’s export surge made her Africa’s top coffee exporter, with 8.4 million 60-kg bags valued at $2.4 billion.
The government through the Ministry of Agriculture (MAAIF) and the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) made strategic strides to prioritize quality control, farmer training, and the provision of improved, disease-resistant seedlings.
According to the report by Greening Uganda, a non-government Agribusiness & Forestry consulting company dedicated to improving Commercial Forest Establishments in Uganda, reveals that over 12,000,000 Ugx (Twelve Million Uganda Shillings) is harvested per farmer from an acre of well looked after or managed coffee plantation.
“In early 2025, the country experienced a significant jump in both volume and value, with figures like a 70% increase in export value over 12 months to February 2025, and a 91.9% increase in value for May 2025 compared to the previous year.” Greening Uganda reveals.
Uganda tops the continental coffee exportation, specializing in Robusta as more efforts rapidly boost Arabica exports are high.
A courtesy photo from website International Trade Centre of a farmer harvesting coffee.
Greening Uganda reveals Major buyers include Italy, Germany, and Sudan. According to the Global Coffee Platform, Ethiopia is ranked as second in Africa as the major exporter for premium Arabica coffee.
Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda ranked three, four and five respectively with significant production and exportation of both Arabica and Robusta (Tanzania), high-quality Arabica coffee(Kenya and Rwanda).
Other reasons for Uganda’s export surge include, market diversification the country has successfully expanded its market footprint into new regions in times When Europe remains the primary destination at 63% of exports, where Italy and Germany lead the market consumption.
Ugandan government has made deliberate infrastructural improvements by enhancement of post-harvest handling and amplification of numerous processing/hulling stations which have improved the quality, and making the country’s coffee to meet strict international standards/
Uganda’s Robusta and specialty Arabica, has created a high global international demand for both species, putting the country’s crop pushing for a high production, level.
The country has been able to reach here after the Rationalization process of 2024, where Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) through a controversial National Coffee (Amendment) Act, 2024.