The coffee fraternity woke up on Tuesday to heartbreaking news: Emmanuel Iyamulemye, 61, had passed.
With his death, those who knew him closely say, the country lost not just a former managing director of Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), but a giant whose life was woven into the very fabric of the coffee story.
To many, he was more than a technocrat. He was a teacher, a believer, a fighter, and above all, a man who lived and breathed coffee.
Coffee was not simply his profession; it was his purpose, his rhythm, and, in many ways, his spiritual calling.
He leaves behind his wife, Bridget, their four children, and several others they raised together.
A visionary who carried farmers’ dreams
Iyamulemye’s leadership at UCDA reads like a defining chapter in Uganda’s agricultural transformation.
When he assumed office, he inherited the hopes of millions of farmers, a responsibility he shouldered with humility and fierce dedication.
He steered the creation and execution of the Coffee Roadmap, strengthened coffee legislation, championed quality reforms, and pushed Uganda into new markets.
Earned Uganda its first $1b
Under his guidance, Uganda’s production rose to six million bags, earning the country its first $1b from a single crop and securing its position as the seventh largest coffee producer globally.
He carried Uganda’s Robusta beans to global stages with the devotion of a parent defending a child.
At international coffee meetings, he argued passionately for the proper classification of African coffees.
Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze captured his influence succinctly in a post on X (formerly Twitter): ‘He was bold, firm and intelligent, a pillar of Uganda’s coffee sector.’
These were not just achievements; they were the bricks of a legacy he built one farmer, one policy, and one late-night meeting at a time.
Within the lively community of the National Coffee Forum (NCF), now Uganda’s largest online coffee platform, Iyamulemye was affectionately called ‘Uganda’s largest coffee tree.’ Like a great old tree, he offered shade, direction, and nourishment to a sector that leaned heavily on his wisdom.
Frank Wakabi, of NILEACRED and NCF, wrote with emotion: ‘He was one of the most committed champions our industry has ever known. He lived out the transformation he advocated for.’
He was the kind of leader who remembered the names of farmers, their villages, and even the varieties they grew. He could kneel in a coffee garden, crumble soil between his fingers, and speak about moisture content with poetic ease. To him, coffee was a living organism, one he understood intimately and defended fiercely.
Though celebrated for his boardroom wins, those who knew him say his heart beat strongest among the farmers he served. Rural households, youth groups, and women’s cooperatives were his true constituency.
Former UCDA spokesperson Laura Walusimbi remembers him as a leader deeply invested in people.
‘We will remember him for his commitment to the welfare of coffee stakeholders, especially farmers,’ she shared.
He could spend hours discussing pruning, pests, soil health, and market timing with growers.
He believed that empowering farmers with knowledge was the surest route to prosperity.
A gentle fighter who meant well
Colleagues in the coffee sector describe him as gentle yet authoritative; a man with a soft voice that carried weight, who worked with discipline, humilit,y and a sense of purpose that inspired many.
Charles Mugoya, a NCF member, said: ‘He gave exemplary service and meant well for Uganda. His legacy in the global and Uganda coffee industry will be remembered for years.’
Even as illness weakened his body, his spirit remained unshaken. He continued following sector reports and guiding colleagues. He bore heavy medical costs bravely and quietly, a testament to his inner strength.
A life rooted in service beyond coffee
Iyamulemye’s contribution extended beyond UCDA. For nearly 30 years, he played an influential role in the Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA), strengthening farmer institutions and promoting good governance and financial discipline.
To the cooperative movement, he was not only an expert but a trusted advisor and bridge-builder.
Edwin Tabaro, of Semliki Valley Coffee, wrote: ‘He improved production to six million bags . one of Uganda’s finest public servants.’
He leaves at a delicate moment for the coffee sector, a fact that has sharpened the grief.
As one NFC member remarked: ‘He has left when the wolves have taken over the coffee industry. But he did his part. Now let’s see what the wolves will offer.’
At home, he was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a mentor to many young people. Friends recall warm laughter, thoughtful counsel, and a man who celebrated growth, whether in people or in coffee trees.
His legacy now lives in every coffee farmer, roaster, exporter, and policy-maker touched by his work.