Uganda Projects 558,000-Ton Coffee Crop, a 15% Increase for 2025/2026
Kampala — Qahwa World
Uganda is forecasting a major rise in coffee production, projecting a 15% increase for the 2025/2026 crop year (October–September), as new coffee plantations begin to yield harvests, according to Gerald Kyalo, Commissioner of the Coffee Department at the Ministry of Agriculture.
The East African country—Africa’s leading coffee exporter—expects to harvest 558,000 metric tons, equivalent to 9.3 million 60-kilogram bags, up from 8.1 million bags in the previous season. The projection represents a 14.8% rise, or 72,000 tons more than last year’s output of 486,000 tons.
“The major reason is increased planting. Many farmers have planted coffee which we anticipate will come into production this year and will inevitably push up exports as well,” Kyalo told Reuters.
Over the past years, the government of President Yoweri Museveni has distributed free coffee seedlings to both new and existing farmers to expand their acreage or open up new farmland. Additionally, the government has been providing free fertilisers to help the country reach its ambitious target of producing 30 million bags annually by 2030.
Uganda predominantly grows the Robusta variety, though Arabica is also cultivated in highland regions. Production and export volumes have been climbing steadily, boosted by global coffee price gains and maturing new trees that have begun producing fruit.
In the 12 months to August 2025, Uganda earned $2.2 billion from coffee exports, up 57% from the previous year—a record performance that underscores the sector’s growing strength. Since the country exports nearly 95% of its coffee, the larger 2025/2026 crop is expected to further boost export revenues and consolidate Uganda’s position as a key player in the global coffee market.
With expanded planting, favourable weather, and strong global demand, Uganda continues to reinforce its status as one of Africa’s fastest-growing coffee producers—well on its path toward becoming a top global coffee powerhouse.
