Museveni Urges Coffee Farmers To Support Zero Export Of Unprocessed Raw Materials

RUKIGA, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni called on coffee farmers to support the government’s push to stop the export of unprocessed raw materials, saying the move would accelerate Uganda’s industrialization agenda and create more jobs and income.

“We must continue to add value to our coffee, cotton, minerals, among others, to create jobs and incomes for our people and revenues for the government to carry out our mega infrastructure projects,” Museveni said in a statement read by Vice President Jessica Alupo.

Alupo represented the president at the launch of the National Coffee Farmers Empowerment Program on Wednesday at Muhanga town in Rukiga district. She flagged off the nationwide program and distributed coffee seedlings to farmers.

The president said halting exports of unprocessed raw materials such as coffee is a step in the right direction. He noted that Uganda’s industrial base has expanded due to a sustained focus on mandatory value addition, with raw coffee fetching $2 per unit compared with $20 to $50 when processed.

“Previously, we have been fetching less value from our coffee because of exporting it in raw form to Europe, the USA and other countries,” Museveni said. “The cleverer countries, which produce little or no coffee at all, were the ones processing our coffee and reaping a lot of profits from it.”

In November 2025, Museveni called on African heads of state under the African Union to enforce laws preventing the export of unprocessed products, supported by efforts to reduce non-tariff barriers.

According to the president, the ruling National Resistance Movement government continues to prioritize the coffee sector because of its contribution to economic growth, foreign exchange earnings and the livelihoods of millions of households in the coffee value chain. Coffee production in Uganda currently stands at 8.4 million bags.

Other government interventions include scaling up distribution of quality seedlings through Operation Wealth Creation, strengthening farmer training and extension services, and enhancing monitoring.

The program is spearheaded by CoffPass Growers Uganda Ltd., working with the State House Local Content Unit led by Hajati Amina Mukalazi.

“Through this program, we are committed to equipping farmers with skills, knowledge, quality inputs and market linkages,” Mukalazi said. “The earlier farmer sensitization and training sessions are a clear demonstration that this initiative is not theoretical, but practical, targeted and people-centered.”

She said the program aligns with the government’s vision of ensuring wealth creation starts at the grassroots, with farmers at the center.