The Ugandan coffee sector is experiencing challenges due to global price fluctuations, with the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank K. Tumwebaze, assuring farmers and traders that the government is committed to supporting them. Tumwebaze stated that international coffee and cocoa markets are undergoing a period of adjustment and volatility, driven by changing expectations around global supply and inventories. He emphasized that Uganda, as an internationally integrated producer and exporter, cannot insulate its commodity prices from developments in major producing and consuming countries.
According to Tumwebaze, the recent pressure on coffee prices has been associated with increased availability from major producers Brazil and Vietnam. He cited August-September 2026 international market analysis indicating that coffee prices had come under pressure as Brazil's harvest reached the market and Vietnam increased exports. The Minister also pointed to projections by the International Coffee Organization (ICO) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) showing growth in global coffee production.
The fluctuations in global coffee prices have affected Uganda's export figures, with the country exporting 846,376 bags of 60 kilogrammes in July 2026, compared with 997,105 bags in July 2025. Export earnings fell from US$250.7 million to US$204.1 million, representing a decline of about 15.1 percent in volume and 18.6 percent in value. Tumwebaze attributed the decline to the global market adjustment rather than a uniquely Ugandan problem.
Cocoa prices have also experienced volatility, with London cocoa prices falling by 5.9 percent in one session after reaching a one-year high, while New York cocoa also declined by 5.9 percent. Tumwebaze linked some of the pressure to developments in Côte d'Ivoire, where cocoa production for the June 2025-June 2026 period had reportedly increased by 30 percent, while shipments in the current international cocoa marketing year were substantially higher than in the previous year.
Despite the challenges, Uganda's domestic coffee market has not experienced a uniform decline across all coffee categories. According to figures presented by the Ministry, average farm-gate prices in September 2025 stood at: Robusta Kiboko: Shs6,000-7,000 per kilogramme, Robusta FAQ: Shs13,500-14,000 per kilogramme, Arabica parchment: Shs14,000-15,000 per kilogramme, and Drugar: Shs13,500-14,000 per kilogramme. In the first half of September 2026, indicative prices were: Robusta Kiboko: Shs5,000-6,000 per kilogramme, Robusta FAQ: Shs11,500-12,000 per kilogramme, Arabica parchment: about Shs15,500-16,000 per kilogramme, and Drugar: Shs14,000-14,500 per kilogramme.
The Minister identified prolonged drought and unusually high temperatures in several coffee-growing areas as another major challenge facing Ugandan farmers. He specifically mentioned parts of Greater Masaka, Kyotera, Sembabule, and Luwero, where water stress has affected coffee flowering, cherry development, bean filling, processing out-turn, and quality. According to the Minister, adverse weather conditions are estimated to have contributed to an out-turn approximately 10 percent below the normal average in affected areas.
Tumwebaze urged farmers not to respond to falling prices by cutting down trees or abandoning coffee production, but instead to focus on improving quality and productivity. He emphasized that farmers who deliver well-dried, properly harvested, and good-quality coffee may receive substantially better prices than those supplying immature, poorly dried, or mixed coffee. The government is committed to supporting farmers to improve their productivity and quality, and to mitigate the effects of global price fluctuations.
Key points
- The Ugandan government has assured coffee farmers of support measures to mitigate the effects of global price fluctuations.
- Global coffee prices have been affected by increased availability from major producers Brazil and Vietnam.
- Uganda's coffee sector faces challenges due to drought and high temperatures in several coffee-growing areas.
