Uganda woos investors at Swiss coffee forum as exports surge

Uganda has stepped up efforts to attract investment into its coffee industry as the country seeks to increase production, improve quality and traceability, promote value addition and expand access to international markets.

The push was made during Uganda’s inaugural participation in the 17th Swiss Coffee Trade Association (SCTA) Forum and Dinner in Montreux, Switzerland, where the country presented its coffee transformation agenda to global traders, investors and other industry players.

The Ugandan delegation was led by State Minister for Agriculture Desire Muhooza, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) Permanent Secretary Maj Gen (Rtd) David Kasura-Kyomukama and Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire Waiswa.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MAAIF, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and private-sector players in the coffee industry participated in the forum.

Uganda’s engagement was held under the theme, “Brewing Trust: Traceability, Sustainability and Value Addition in Uganda’s Coffee Journey.”

Opening the country’s engagement, Mr Muhooza described coffee as central to Uganda’s economic transformation and the livelihoods of millions of households.

“Coffee is not simply a crop for Uganda. It is deeply embedded in our economy, our history, our culture and the livelihoods of millions of households,” he said.

The minister said Uganda’s ambition goes beyond increasing coffee volumes to improving quality and capturing greater value from the commodity.

“It represents a national commitment and a long-term ambition to produce more, produce better and share Uganda’s coffee excellence with the world,” Mr Muhooza said.

Uganda’s coffee exports have increased significantly over the past decade, rising from about 3.6 million bags in 2017 to more than 8.3 million bags in 2025, according to figures presented at the forum.

Mr Muhooza attributed the growth to government interventions in farmer support, productivity improvement, quality enhancement and market development.

“This transformation is not merely a story of increased volumes. It reflects Uganda’s emergence as a dependable and significant coffee origin in the international market,” he said.

Investment opportunities

Mr Joseph Enyimu, a commissioner at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, said the growth of the coffee industry presents investment opportunities across the value chain.

He said coffee is part of the broader government strategy to accelerate economic growth, industrialisation and job creation.

“Uganda’s coffee transformation is part of a wider national strategy to accelerate economic growth, industrialisation and job creation. Coffee presents significant opportunities not only in production but across processing, manufacturing, branding and export development,” Mr Enyimu said.

He said Uganda wants to move away from dependence on raw commodity exports by encouraging investment in processing and other activities that generate higher returns.

“Our objective is to move beyond exporting raw commodities and create more value across the entire coffee value chain. This presents attractive opportunities for investors looking to partner in Uganda’s growing coffee industry,” he said.

The government has increasingly identified value addition as a key avenue for increasing earnings from coffee while creating jobs and strengthening domestic industries.

Uganda also used the forum to promote the distinctive characteristics of its coffee origins.

These include Fine Robustas, known for chocolate, caramel, nutty and spicy flavour profiles, as well as specialty Arabicas from Bugisu, Mount Elgon and the Rwenzori Highlands.

Ugandan coffee was showcased at the country’s exhibition booth alongside coffee from established producing countries such as Costa Rica and Colombia.

The government says promoting specific coffee origins and improving traceability could help Ugandan producers access more specialised and higher-value international markets.

Mr Bagiire said Uganda’s participation in the forum was consistent with the country’s economic and commercial diplomacy agenda.

He said the engagement demonstrated cooperation among government agencies and the private sector while strengthening efforts to position coffee as a driver of economic growth.

The Swiss forum also provided an opportunity for Uganda to engage global coffee stakeholders and build partnerships around investment, market access and technical cooperation.

Uganda is one of Africa’s leading coffee producers, with the crop remaining a major source of foreign exchange and a key source of income for smallholder farmers.

However, officials said increasing production must be matched by improvements in quality, sustainability, traceability and value addition.

The government also wants greater investment in processing, branding and export development so that a larger share of the value generated by Uganda’s coffee is retained within the country.

Mr Bagiire said the government remains committed to strengthening the sector while ensuring that smallholder farmers remain at the centre of its development.

The engagement in Montreux, officials said, reaffirmed Uganda’s readiness to deepen partnerships with global coffee stakeholders and strengthen confidence in its coffee.

For Uganda, the long-term ambition is to produce more coffee, improve quality, meet international standards and build a competitive industry capable of increasing farmer incomes while contributing to industrialisation and economic growth.