Uganda Launches Nationwide Coffee Registration Exercise Amid Tight Deadline

KAMPALA, UGANDA – Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Uganda Coffee Development Authority has officially launched a nationwide coffee registration exercise aimed at enhancing sustainability, improving market access, and ensuring compliance with international regulations.

Minister Frank Tumwebaze emphasized the importance of coffee to Uganda’s economy, contributing 11-22% of commodity exports over the last 11 years, averaging 14%.

“Coffee is an important crop nationally and globally, with a global annual value of $465 billion, ranking as the world’s second-largest revenue earner after oil,” Minister Tumwebaze said.

Uganda is the 7th largest coffee producer globally and 2nd largest in Africa, with approximately 1.8 million smallholder farmers cultivating coffee on an estimated 353,907 hectares of land. Over 9 million people in Uganda derive their livelihood from coffee-related activities.

The registration exercise, conducted by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and partners, is free of charge and essential for creating a National Traceability System.

“This registration process is crucial for ensuring continued access to international markets and effective mapping of coffee farms,” Minister Tumwebaze emphasized.

The exercise aims to register all coffee value chain actors, including farmers, traders, and processors. Enumerators will record essential details, such as names, farm locations, and coffee types, and map farms/gardens using GPS coordinates.

The European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), effective December 30, 2024, requires Uganda to prove its coffee is produced sustainably.

“The EU regulations came into effect on June 29, 2023, and will be applied on December 30, 2024. We must comply to maintain access to the EU market, which accounts for over 60% of Uganda’s coffee exports,” Minister Tumwebaze explained.

In the financial year 2023/24, Uganda’s coffee exports totaled 6.13 million bags worth $1.14 billion, a 6.33% increase in quantity and 35.29% increase in value compared to the previous year.

Italy maintained the highest market share with 41.96%, followed by Germany (10.55%), India (7.41%), Sudan (6.87%), and Spain (5.40%). Europe remained the main destination for Uganda’s coffee, importing 4,023,480 bags (66%) in the financial year 2023/24.

Minister Tumwebaze appealed to leaders, coffee stakeholders, and local government officials to support the exercise.

“I appeal to all leaders, coffee value chain actors, and district local government leaders to support this registration exercise. It is crucial for ensuring continued access to international markets and effective mapping of coffee farms,” he said.

The registration exercise is part of Uganda’s efforts to promote sustainable production practices, preserve the environment, and retain existing markets while exploring emerging markets like China, the Middle East, and Maghreb.

“I would like to thank the Government of Uganda for providing resources for registration and Development Partners (aBi Development and UNDP) for funding support. We also appreciate Civil Society organizations for mobilizing farmers,” Minister Tumwebaze concluded.

The registration exercise is expected to enhance Uganda’s coffee industry’s competitiveness and sustainability, ensuring the country remains a significant player in the global coffee market.