Efforts to promote coffee cultivation in Karamoja, Acholi, Lango, and West Nile represent a significant advancement. This initiative will enable residents of these subregions to benefit more from coffee profits, similar to established coffee-growing areas such as Buganda (Central region) and Bugisu.

Hats off to the National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) for spearheading this effort through its initiative known as WALK—an acronym for West Nile, Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja.

NaCORI has adopted innovative strategies to raise awareness, including the use of art to highlight the economic benefits of coffee farming. This creative approach is particularly effective, as visual art often resonates deeply with audiences and captures their attention.

Another unique strategy employed by NaCORI is coffee aerobics, where participants engage in 30 minutes of vigorous physical activity, followed by enjoying a fresh cup of coffee. This fusion of health and coffee culture not only promotes coffee farming but also encourages greater local consumption, which in turn increases returns for farmers across the coffee value chain.

These initiatives come at a crucial time. Uganda has emerged as Africa’s leading coffee exporter, surpassing Ethiopia in export volume. The country is now the second-largest coffee producer in Africa and ranks eighth globally.

In May 2025, Uganda exported 47,606 tons of coffee, earning $243 million, compared to Ethiopia’s 43,481 tons for the same period. Uganda also exported 793,445 bags of coffee in that month alone. By the end of 2025, coffee exports had generated $2.09 billion, a milestone driven by enhanced quality standards and sustained government support.

Coffee is the second most traded commodity globally after oil and is among Uganda’s top traded products, benefiting from a fully liberalized marketing system. To maximize its potential, coffee farming should adhere to standardized production and processing practices to ensure both quality and economic sustainability.

As Uganda’s leading cash crop, coffee plays a vital role in generating foreign exchange and creating employment. It contributes between 20% and 30% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings, despite the government’s broader efforts to diversify the economy.

Coffee was introduced to Uganda by foreign settlers, with Arabica coffee first cultivated in 1914. Since then, coffee farming has evolved into a profitable industry, with significant gains during global coffee booms. The Central region (Buganda) remains Uganda’s top coffee producer, particularly the Greater Masaka area, which contributed significantly to the 594,188 bags of Robusta exported in April 2025, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. The southwestern highlands also produce notable quantities of Arabica coffee, albeit in smaller volumes.

Northern Uganda is now poised for transformation, thanks to NaCORI’s ongoing promotion efforts. Coffee farming has the potential to provide a stable income, stimulate local economies, and improve livelihoods. At the national level, it remains a crucial source of foreign exchange.

The expansion of coffee farming in Karamoja, Acholi, Lango, and West Nile is expected to significantly increase production and uplift the quality of life for farmers and communities in these regions.

To conclude, we turn to a popular saying from Buganda:
“Emwanyi Telimba”—“Coffee doesn’t lie.”
This timeless wisdom continues to affirm the value and truthfulness of coffee cultivation across Uganda.