Uganda has overtaken Ethiopia to become Africa’s leading coffee exporter after shipping 8.6 million bags of coffee between June 2025 and May 2026, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
Dr Gerald Kyalo, the commissioner for Coffee Development at MAAIF, said Uganda exported 8.6 million 60-kilogramme bags of coffee worth $2.3b (Shs8.3 trillion) during the period under review. ‘Between June 2025 and May 2026, we exported 8.6 million bags of 60kg coffee worth $2.3 billion, and as a country, we are happy that we are making more money from coffee while our farmers continue to earn a livelihood from the crop,’ Dr Kyalo said yesterday. He attributed Uganda’s rise to the top position partly to the fact that Ethiopia consumes a substantial share of its coffee domestically.
‘Ethiopia consumes about 50 percent of its coffee, while Uganda’s coffee exports have been growing exponentially over the last five years,’ he said. According to available industry data, Uganda ranked among the world’s leading coffee producers in 2023, with output estimated at 5.29 million bags. The country is projected to increase production to 5.86 million bags by 2028. Buoyed by the strong export performance, Uganda is seeking to strengthen its position in international markets through aggressive promotion campaigns. Uganda’s Embassy in Brussels, working together with MAAIF, is preparing to showcase the country’s coffee at the World of Coffee 2026 exhibition in Belgium.
Organised by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), the World of Coffee is Europe’s largest specialty coffee trade event, attracting producers, traders, roasters, baristas and coffee buyers from around the world. The event, which will take place at Brussels Expo, is expected to provide Uganda with an opportunity to market its coffee directly to buyers and investors in one of the world’s most influential coffee markets. ‘The World of Coffee in Brussels offers a unique platform for Uganda to present its coffee story directly to the European market,’ Uganda’s Embassy in Brussels said in a statement.
Officials say the campaign is intended to strengthen trade relations, attract investment and enhance Uganda’s reputation as a producer of high-quality coffee. For two days, Uganda’s exhibition stand will showcase specialty coffees from major growing regions, including the slopes of Mount Elgon, the Rwenzori Mountains, West Nile and the central Robusta-growing belt.