The British High Commission in Uganda has pledged to support coffee farmers in Sebei and Bugisu sub-regions with access to finance, equipment and foreign markets.
Mr Andrew Ockenden, the development director at the Commission, said the farmers will be supported to produce quality coffee beans for both local and foreign markets.
“We will support the farmers to access finances so as to improve the quality of coffee and also employ more Ugandans,” he said.
Mr Ockenden made the remarks during his visit to farmers under Bros Coffee Company in Kapchorwa Municipality at the weekend.
He also visited farmers implementing different forestry activities under The Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST) in Wanale Sub-county, Mbale District.
Mr Ockenden said the embassy will popularise Ugandan coffee to ensure that it hits the supermarkets in Britain, something he said will enable Ugandan farmers to earn more from their produce.
“The farmers will find the market and will be able to get paid well and they will be able to send their children to school,” he said
Mr Dison Kareng, the managing director of Bros Coffee, which was the winner of the Uganda- UK Arabica coffee competition 2021, said lack of processing equipment is still a hurdle in their effort to improve quality of coffee in the region.
“Poor quality of our coffee still affects us tremendously but with such support in terms of engagement and export infrastructure, we will achieve,” he said.
In a bid to promote local consumption of coffee, Endiro Coffee Shop recently also open a branch at Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa as part of the interventions.
Speaking during the launch of the Sipi branch, Mr Roger Agamba, the managing director Endiro Coffee Shop, said coffee culture is gradually growing in the country.
“The coffee culture is growing in Uganda starting from Kampala and is fast spreading across the country. We want to encourage Ugandans to drink coffee,” Mr Agamba, said.
Ms Gloria Katusiime, the Endiro Coffee chief executive officer, said they are currently working with hundreds of coffee farmers in Bukalasi, Bududa District.
Mr Tom Chesol, the Kapchorwa resident district commissioner, said Uganda coffee farmers suffer exploitation from middlemen.
He added that farmers should be sensitised on value addition and market needs.
“Farmers need to get value for their coffee so that they increase their household income and defeat poverty,” he said.
Mr Isaac Chemonges, the district tourism officer, said the area grows the best coffee in the world but farmers lack ready market.
Ms Pauline Nantongo Kalunda, the executive director of ECOTRUST, said the forestry initiatives also conserve biodiversity and build the resilience of coffee smallholders to the impact of climate change.
“These activities have supported climate change mitigation through the removal of about 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide,” she said.
British Embassy to support Sebei, Bugisu coffee farmers
