UGANDA COFFEE FARMERS REGULATION BOARD (UCFRB)

SERVICES

NEWS

Java House Hits 100 Outlets Across East Africa

Kenya's Java House, the largest branded coffee chain in East Africa, has opened its 100th outlet—an Express format store—in Kampala. These streamlined locations, designed for quick service, are popular in urban areas like Najjera and Muyenga.

Women Coffee Farmers Empowered Through Specialty Business

In Sironko District, Meridah Nandudu created Bayaaya Specialty Coffee, a women-centered coffee enterprise. Since 2022, it has grown from serving just a few dozen to over 600 female farmers—now comprising around 75% of its members. The initiative offers better prices and seasonal bonuses, supporting financial inclusion and empowering women in coffee management and sales.

Searching for Drought-Resistant Coffee Varieties

Researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew are advancing the development of climate-resilient coffee species like excelsa and stenophylla, which thrive in harsher, drier environments. Already cultivated on ~200 Ugandan farms, excelsa has earned favorable responses in taste tests. Genetic mapping of over 1,000 coffee samples is underway to guide future breeding or even gene-editing efforts—tools that could help secure future supplies of specialty coffee.

Plastic Pollution: A Hidden Threat to Coffee Farmlands

In Mbale, a key arabica-producing region, farmers are alarmed by the increasing presence of plastic bags (locally known as buveera) in their fields. Microplastics are infiltrating soils, posing risks not only to ecosystems and crops but potentially to human health. With plastic usage rising due to climate stressors—like crop protection and pesticides—the challenge persists despite recycling efforts and global talks on binding plastic pollution treaties.

WhatsApp-Image-2025-05-17-at-12.03.44-PM-1.jpeg

Growth Forecasts and Structural Shifts

The USDA projects Uganda’s coffee production for 2025/26 to reach 6.88 million bags, a 2.6% year-over-year increase. Exports are expected to rise to 6.53 million bags, up 2.8%—with continued dominance of EU markets, followed by the U.S., Morocco, India, and China

ABOUT

ABOUT US

The Uganda Coffee Farmers Regulation Board (UCFRB) is a statutory body dedicated to overseeing, regulating, and supporting the coffee industry in Uganda. Established under the framework of the National Coffee Act, 2021, the Board operates as a key player in guiding Uganda’s coffee subsector towards sustainable growth, global competitiveness, and improved livelihoods for millions of coffee farmers across the country. Coffee remains Uganda’s leading agricultural export and one of the most important contributors to household incomes and national revenue. As such, UCFRB plays a critical role in ensuring that the industry is not only profitable but also aligned with international standards and sustainability practices. The Board serves as the bridge between farmers, processors, exporters, and international markets—promoting transparency, quality, and traceability at every level of the value chain.

812,000

Registered Farmers

821,593 60

Monthly Bags Exported

956

Projects Created

2,966

Farmers Educated

PROJECTS