- Uganda reportedly exported a record 47,606 tonnes of coffee in May 2025
- It has now surpassed Ethiopia to become Africa’s top coffee exporter for the first time
- It has earned $1.97 billion from coffee exports in the past year alone thanks to public & private sector reforms
FOR years, Ethiopia has been synonymous with African coffee. Its heirloom arabicas, cultural heritage, and dominant export volumes cemented its position as the continent’s undisputed leader in the sector. No longer. In a quiet but formidable shift, Uganda has reportedly taken the lead.
In May 2025, Uganda exported a record 47,606 tonnes of coffee, earning $243 million in revenue, according to new data from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). Uganda has held a record performance, exporting 7.17 million bags worth $1.97 billion in the past year.
Europe remains the primary destination for Uganda’s coffee exports, accounting for 67% of total shipments – with Italy alone responsible for 39% of that volume. The remaining exports are split between regional African markets and growing demand from Asia.
The figure not only marks a monthly high for the country, but surpasses Ethiopia’s export volumes of 43,481 tonnes in the same period last year. While Ethiopia continues to enjoy a strong reputation in specialty markets, Uganda’s consistent investment in quality improvement and policy infrastructure is beginning to pay off.
“A major catalyst was the government’s 2013 coffee replanting programme, led by the UCDA with support from the National Army’s Operation Wealth Creation (OWC),” says Robert Byaruhanga, President of the Uganda Coffee Federation. “The initiative enabled large-scale distribution of free coffee seedlings nationwide and was backed by widespread awareness campaigns via radio, TV, podcasts, and digital platforms. Crucially, it mobilised traditional institutions like the Buganda, Ankole, Tooro, Bunyoro, and Busoga Kingdoms, as well as faith-based organisations with access to land.
By the programme’s end in 2022, many of these institutions had taken ownership and continued independently. Rising global coffee prices from 2013 to 2024 also played a key role, motivating farmers by making harvests more profitable and quicker to sell – the surge in coffee prices in late 2023 and all through 2024 also guaranteed a faster selling pace from coffee farmers.”
At this year’s World of Coffee trade show in Geneva, Uganda’s booth was among the busiest on the expo floor.
Reportedly, the Uganda Coffee Federation – the country’s private-sector coffee apex body – secured a multi-year, high-value sourcing agreement with Sucafina, one of the world’s largest green coffee traders. The multinational’s sister company, Ugacof/Sucafina Uganda, is optimising Uganda’s “strong potential for specialty arabica production by focusing on agricultural extension and improved processing infrastructure” and clearly investing in the country’s coffee export potential. This adds momentum to Uganda’s recent string of wins and growing international attention.
The contrast with Ethiopia, long seen as Africa’s coffee powerhouse, is striking. While Ethiopia’s reputation remains strong, its coffee industry has faced supply chain challenges in recent years, from civil unrest and logistics disruptions to export bottlenecks and bureaucratic hurdles. Uganda, by contrast, has pursued a stable, growth-oriented strategy supported by both government and private sector actors.
“As an Ethiopian coffee exporter, I’d like to sincerely congratulate Uganda and the Uganda Coffee Development Authority on their success,” says Michael Mamo, Managing Director of Addis Exporter. “It’s awesome to see African coffee receiving global attention. Uganda’s progress shows what focused investment in systems, marketing, and farmer support can achieve.”
“That said, Ethiopia continues to hold a special place in the coffee world, as the birthplace of coffee, with coffees renowned for their quality, diversity, and cultural heritage. Both production and exports are increasing, and our strong domestic consumption reflects just how central coffee is to everyday life here.
The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority is actively investing in farmer training, quality improvement, and sustainability initiatives. With continued focus on traceability, innovation, logistics, and marketing, Ethiopia is well positioned to grow and maintain its leadership in the global coffee industry.”
From volume to value
Uganda’s rise to the top has been decades in the making. The country is unique in Africa for being both a major robusta and emerging arabica producer – a versatility that has given it access to commodity and specialty markets alike.
A major turning point for Uganda’s coffee sector occurred in 1992 with the liberalisation of Robusta production. This reform removed mandatory minimum pricing, centralised purchasing, and export taxes. As a result, farmers were able to benefit directly from rising international coffee prices, though they also became more vulnerable to price fluctuations. Despite these risks, the liberalised market spurred growth in both production and exports, while also giving rise to new production hubs, particularly in the Central Region.
Uganda’s coffee production has grown steadily over the past decade, rising from 2.7 million 60-kg bags of green coffee in 2009/10 to 4.7 million bags by 2018 – representing roughly 3% of global coffee trade.
According to the International Coffee Organization, Uganda produced around 6.5 million 60-kg bags of coffee in 2023–2024, making it the eighth largest coffee producer globally and the second in Africa at the time. The government, through the UCDA, has set its sights on reaching 20 million bags of green coffee annually by 2030 – a goal that once seemed aspirational, but now appears increasingly plausible.
While robusta still accounts for over 80% of Uganda’s production, arabica exports have steadily risen in volume and quality over the past decade, supported by targeted investment and farmer training programmes.
“Uganda is one of the few coffee origin countries that offers international buyers multiple options: washed, naturals, and honeys in both robusta and arabica categories, and at scale,” says Robert. “On-farm experimentation is driving creativity, with companies bringing in Latin American experts to support the quality improvements.”
The growth is rooted in long-term policy planning, strong governance, and active cross-sector collaboration. The National Coffee Policy of 2013 was one of the first in Africa to formalise a cross-sector approach to value chain development. It included everything from farmer extension services and climate-resilient agronomy to quality control labs, export incentives, and value addition. It prioritised collaboration among government ministries, private sector actors, and other stakeholders to achieve sustainable and competitive coffee production and marketing – an inspiring model for other countries.
“Uganda’s progress shows the power of coordinated investment across the coffee value chain, especially when it comes to quality, infrastructure, and strong government backing,” says Michael. “In Ethiopia, we’re already seeing record highs in both production and exports. To keep that momentum going, it’s important that we continue strengthening training, traceability, marketing, and logistics. The success of others is a good reminder that realising the full potential of Ethiopian coffee will require even stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.”
Uganda’s arabica-growing regions – including Mount Elgon, the Rwenzori Mountains, and the West Nile – have emerged as credible specialty origins in their own right. The country actively participates in coffee trade shows and competitions to showcase its outstanding coffee qualities.
Another non-negligible factor in Uganda’s current success is simply that high green coffee prices have made in-demand African coffee origins like Ethiopia more expensive, combined with civil unrest and logistical bottlenecks, which have also participated in higher prices and delays in delivery. This has contributed to driving demand for specialty grade arabica and robusta coffees from Uganda, which is scaling production and can handle demand.
Finally, unlike many African origins that primarily export green coffee with little local processing, Uganda has also made strides in domestic value addition. The number of local roasters, cafés, and barista training schools has grown significantly, in part thanks to initiatives by the Uganda Coffee Federation, which receives strong backing from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
A new era for African coffee leadership
Uganda’s coffee success is not just about tonnes and trade deals. It’s also about ideas. The country is now positioning itself as a thought leader in responsible business conduct, environmental compliance, and circular economy innovation in the coffee sector.
Amid growing discussion around the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and other due diligence requirements from major import markets, Uganda is leading the way on Responsible Business Conduct for coffee. Robert confirms that Uganda’s Task Force National Action Plan on EUDR is as much about compliance as it is about building resilient systems of accountability in Uganda’s coffee sector, and Uganda’s intention to maintain sovereignty over its supply chain intelligence.
“Our efforts on EUDR compliance have not been without challenges, and there is still some distance to travel,” says Robert. “The farm(er) registration exercise is moving swiftly, and the establishment of a data warehouse freely accessible to all is also ongoing. Uganda has always had a conducive investment environment, and a free market economy. Our enthusiasm in tackling EUDR and the Corporate Sustainable Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) is already strongly cited as positive for the companies currently opening up in the Namanve Industrial Park.”
“Compliance with the old and the new regulations is crucial to maintain market access for the 70% coffee and 97% cocoa that land at EU ports every year. The data in our hands is a strategic resource that will enhance future productivity, inform targeted investments and modernise the value chain. Climate adaptation strategies are now easier to target and align with local conditions. Data and supply chain sovereignty is an important goal for us.”
Uganda is also piloting projects on a circular economy, as part of a wider commitment in its Agenda 2023, and its Green Growth Development Strategy. These efforts to close the loop on coffee and other sector waste are gaining international attention, particularly from sustainability-minded buyers. With international investment flowing in, and a unified sector voice, Uganda is executing a coordinated growth strategy that other African origins will likely seek to emulate.
“It’s incredibly important for African coffee origins like Ethiopia to lead not just in export volume, but also in traceability, sustainability, and responsible business practices,” says Michael. “As the global coffee industry puts more focus on ethics and transparency, being strong in these areas helps build trust and lasting partnerships.”
“Ethiopia has a story that’s unlike anywhere else, from our wide range of varieties to the central role smallholder farmers play in the supply chain. By continuing to invest in compliance and innovation, we’re not only preserving that legacy, we’re also building a more resilient and competitive future for Ethiopian coffee on the world stage.”
For global buyers, Uganda’s rise means a broader origin portfolio and more sourcing options. In an era of climate disruption and supply chain fragility, having a reliable supplier with year-round availability – and a diversity of cup profiles – is increasingly attractive.
It also forces a rethink of long-standing assumptions. Ethiopia may still hold the romantic crown of African coffee, but Uganda now leads, at least for the time being, in hard numbers and in strategic foresight. For Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania – all important coffee origins – Uganda’s ascent will likely spur more investment in infrastructure and governance, or risk losing market share.
For Uganda, coffee is not just an export. It’s an economic strategy. With rural livelihoods, job creation, and climate resilience all tied to the sector, the government is clearly betting on coffee to deliver growth – and so far, the bet is paying off.
Coffee Intelligence
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