DUBAI – QAHWA WORLD
While global markets remain preoccupied with weather volatility in Brazil, Uganda continues its steady and confident rise to solidify its position as the largest coffee exporting power in Africa, surpassing all conventional expectations.
According to data from the International Coffee Organization (ICO) Report for January 2026, Uganda recorded a historic surge in its exports with a growth rate of 52.5%, serving as a primary contributor to the increase in the continent’s total exports.
This exceptional performance was no coincidence; rather, it is the result of a national strategy that enabled the country to exceed the 8.2 million bags (60 kg each) annual threshold, placing it seventh globally and transforming it into a “pivotal player” that cannot be ignored in the global supply equation.
Analytical insights from the report indicate that Uganda successfully exploited the “price vacuum” left by production disruptions in other regions by improving production quality and expanding cultivated areas.
The Ugandan success story relies on a unique diversity; the country balances the production of “Robusta,” which forms the backbone of its exports, and high-quality “Arabica” grown on mountain slopes.
This diversity has granted it high flexibility in facing global exchange fluctuations, as Ugandan coffee has become the first choice for roasters seeking “value for money,” especially with increasing demand for both varieties in emerging European and Asian markets.
Behind these figures lies Uganda’s most ambitious plan in the continent’s history, aiming to double production to reach 20 million bags by 2030.
This government vision includes a comprehensive modernization of the post-harvest sector, the distribution of disease-resistant seedlings, and enhancing the capacities of smallholder farmers who represent 90% of the productive force.
Analysts believe that Uganda reaching this figure will make it a direct competitor to countries the size of Vietnam, redrawing the power map of the global coffee market and reducing total dependence on Latin American production.
The recent export leap is not just a number in an international report; it is a clear signal to investors that the center of gravity in coffee production has begun to shift toward East Africa. The ambition of 20 million bags is no longer a distant dream but an economic reality taking shape under the mantle of sustainable development and agricultural leadership.
