Kampala, Uganda – Uganda has achieved a historic milestone in its coffee sector, with exports hitting a record $2.24 billion in the year ending August 2025 — a 58.7% increase from the previous year.
The news made headlines as Uganda’s coffee stole the spotlight at the SCAJ World Specialty Coffee Conference & Exhibition in Tokyo, Asia’s biggest coffee event.
Exhibiting under the theme “Uganda – The Pearl of Africa,” the country’s pavilion attracted large crowds of traders, roasters, and specialty buyers eager to taste and learn about Uganda’s unique coffee.
Visitors experienced live brewing demonstrations, cupping sessions, and farmer-led talks about sustainability and traceability.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Uganda exported 7.93 million 60-kg bags of coffee (about 462,000 tonnes) over the past year.
In August alone, the country shipped 855,441 bags worth $202.75 million. Arabica exports saw a remarkable 64% value increase, with premium lots like Mt Elgon A+ selling for $9.42 per kilogram — among the highest prices in Africa.
Uganda is now officially Africa’s leading coffee exporter, overtaking Ethiopia, and coffee remains the country’s top foreign exchange earner, supporting over 12 million Ugandans from farm to export.
“Japan values quality, traceability, sustainability, and authenticity — and Uganda delivers all four,” said Tophace Kaahwa, Uganda’s Ambassador to Japan, as visitors lined up to sample the brews.
Major Ugandan exporters, including Mountain Harvest, Bugisu Cooperative Union, Gorilla Highlands Coffee, and Crystal Coffee, reported new partnership negotiations during the event.
Officials hailed the record exports as proof of the sector’s transformation. “The story of Uganda’s coffee is not just about exports; it is about improving farmers’ livelihoods and creating jobs,” said Gordon Katwirenabo, Assistant Commissioner for Quality Assurance and Value Addition.
Back home, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) has set an ambitious goal of exporting 20 million bags annually by 2030, with efforts focused on distributing seedlings, training farmers, and boosting value addition.
Even Buganda Kingdom has intensified its “Emmwanyi Terimba” (Coffee Never Lies) campaign, encouraging every household to plant coffee as a path to prosperity.
With global coffee demand projected to rise by 2.2% per year and supply shortages looming in major producers like Brazil and Colombia, Uganda’s coffee is becoming a hot commodity on the international market — from the bold Robusta beans perfect for espressos to the delicate Arabicas winning over specialty buyers.
