Exploring coffee as a catalyst for change in Uganda and Rwanda

Uganda, the pearl of Africa, and Rwanda, the country of a thousand hills, are two nations inextricably linked, whether it be through their abundance of natural beauty; or their proximity – with both nations claiming to host the hotly disputed source of the Nile.

Both nations have also experienced unimaginable hardship in their recent history – with Rwanda experiencing a genocide in the early 1990s which claimed the lives of over half a million people, and Uganda being locked in a civil war between the government and rebel groups through the late 1980s.

The effects of these atrocities are still felt today. Yet, both countries are unified in their pursuit of a better tomorrow, with coffee production serving as a catalyst for change, shaping futures and stimulating economies.

In this blog, we explore how coffee is helping to foster a spirit of resilience, hope and empowerment among the collective 10-million farming families of Rwanda and Uganda.

Coffee in Uganda

Considered the cradle basket of East Africa, Uganda’s diverse and plentiful agricultural production encompasses coffee. Two types of coffee are grown in Uganda, Arabica and Robusta. The majority of production is of Robusta (80%), which is considered to carry stronger, bitter flavour profiles and a caffeine content double that of Arabica (3.5%).

Grown at elevations of between 200m and 800m, Robusta coffee is more affordable to produce and easier to maintain and harvest, with a unique resilience against pests and diseases and a higher yield in the face of environmental challenges such as droughts. This robustness can be credited to Robusta’s quality of being native to Uganda.

Conversely, Arabica coffee was introduced to Uganda in the early 1900s and represents 20% of the nation’s total coffee production. Typically, both coffee varieties undergo conventional dry processing methods, with harvests taking place twice a year.

Since 2013, the Ugandan government has worked alongside development partners to nurture the growth of the nation’s coffee sector and help farmers access training. These interventions have proved fruitful, with Uganda dethroning Kenya in recent years as the second-largest coffee exporter in Africa, producing a forecasted 6.9 million bags of coffee in 2025, an increase of 800,000 bags from 2023.

These investments support the government’s ‘Coffee Roadmap’: a blueprint to triple Ugandan coffee production by 2030, subsequently generating $1.5 billion in annual foreign exchange earnings.

Coffee in Rwanda

Likewise, the Rwandan government have focussed on the development of the nation’s coffee sector for the last two decades. However, Rwanda’s coffee sector is considerably different to that of its Ugandan counterparts.

Foremost, Rwanda is less than one-tenth of the size of Uganda (26,000km² compared to 241,000km²), and resultantly harvests one-tenth of the coffee. In addition, Rwanda solely produces Arabica coffee, which is harvested only once a year, from February to May.

With less coffee produced, Rwandan smallholder farmers prioritise the production of coffee in micro-lots for the specialty market, enabling them to become more competitive. Micro-lots refer to a particular number of boxes of coffee, and oftentimes, producers won’t produce this coffee unless they have an order from a buyer in advance.

To achieve specialty coffee production, most Rwandan farmers employ washed (wet) processing. This involves de-pulping coffee cherries after harvest and removing the outer husks. Afterwards, coffee beans undergo fermentation in water to soften and remove sticky mucilage. The beans are then washed clean, dried and packaged for shipment.

As part of efforts to strengthen domestic coffee production, the Rwandan government has facilitated the establishment of coffee washing stations. In 2015, the government also implemented a zoning policy to promote local purchasing, enhancing loyalty among farmers and renewing a focus to train farmers to produce coffee fit for specialty markets.

From June 2023, the government lifted the zoning policy to encourage multinationals to buy Rwandan coffee and market the product globally. This action has catalysed competition and is driving local market prices to directly benefit farmers. However, smaller organisations may require finance to purchase coffee from farmers and accommodate global demand.

Coffee can create a fairer world

Uganda and Rwanda are two neighbouring nations with distinctively different relationships with coffee: relationships shaped by the needs of its citizens and the provisions of its lands. 

The unique versatility and value of coffee as a cash crop is felt in the fabric of both societies, visible through contrasting production methods and reflected in the priorities of local leaders and governments.

Investing in Shared Interest means investing in coffee co-operatives around the globe. It means pooling our resources to reach a shared vision: a world where producers receive trade justice and farming families no longer live in extreme poverty. Open a Share Account and find out how you can invest in a fairer world today.