In a major push to meet the European Union’s new coffee trade regulations, the government has registered upto 170,000 coffee farmers within the first two weeks of a nationwide initiative. The registration drive, launched under the EU Due Diligence Regulation (EUDR), aims to ensure Uganda’s coffee sector meets the stringent compliance requirements before the upcoming December deadline.
The milestone was announced by Mr. Israel Ssebugenyi, a technical expert with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), during a coffee stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Masaka City. The event, held at the Brovard Hotel, brought together local government leaders, coffee farmers, district coordinators, and other stakeholders from Uganda’s coffee-growing regions, including Bukomansimbi, Kalangala, Masaka, Rakai, and several others.
Ssebugenyi highlighted the significance of the coffee sector to Uganda’s economy, noting that the EU is responsible for 60-65% of Uganda’s coffee exports. He explained that the registration effort is a critical step in ensuring that Uganda can continue to access the EU market, which is essential for the country’s coffee industry.
“This registration process is vital for our coffee industry’s long-term sustainability and growth,” Ssebugenyi said. “It’s not about taxation, but about compliance with international standards to ensure traceability in the coffee supply chain.” “This data will be key in ensuring Uganda’s coffee complies with both local and international regulations, and will help to improve the overall quality and sustainability of the sector,” said
The registration drive is being spearheaded by Pula, a data solutions provider, which has been contracted to collect detailed information from farmers across the country. The initiative began on October 21, 2024, and will continue through the year as enumerators gather data on the location, size, and age of coffee farms, as well as other critical information about the farmers and their operations.
According to Ivan Mugeere, Country Director of Pula, the registration process has been progressing rapidly, with enumerators using a custom-developed mobile app to capture both farmer and farm data. This includes personal information like the farmer’s name and contact details, as well as farm-specific data such as the size of the land and the variety of coffee grown. The use of GPS technology ensures accurate mapping of coffee farm boundaries.
The registration process is part of a larger effort by the UCDA to implement a National Traceability System, which will allow for greater transparency within Uganda’s coffee supply chain. The government has allocated UGX 13.9 billion for this initiative in the FY 2024/25, with support from development partners including aBi Development and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
During the meeting, stakeholders expressed a mixture of optimism and concern. While many praised the government’s efforts to support the coffee sector and ensure compliance with EUDR, there were concerns about the tight deadline and the potential consequences of non-compliance, which could impact Uganda’s access to key export markets.
Local government leaders emphasized the importance of clear communication and support for farmers to address any misconceptions about the registration process. Some farmers voiced concerns that the registration could lead to higher taxes or increase bureaucratic hurdles, but officials clarified that the initiative was primarily designed for compliance, not taxation.
Masaka District Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Huddu Hussein cautioned against the politicization of the registration exercise, stressing the need for unity in ensuring the success of the initiative.
“We must work together to ensure that our farmers are well-informed and fully compliant with the regulations. This is a national effort, and it should not be undermined by political interests,” Hussein said.
In addition to meeting EU regulations, the registration drive aims to promote the adoption of best practices in coffee farming. Stakeholders were encouraged to explore innovative farming techniques, such as inter-cropping and the introduction of new coffee varieties, to increase yield and quality. The use of advanced technologies like satellite mapping was also emphasized to enhance farm productivity and traceability.
As Uganda’s coffee sector continues to grow, efforts are also underway to diversify markets beyond the EU, with potential new export opportunities in regions such as China, the Middle East, and North Africa. These markets, like the EU, have their own import requirements, and Uganda is working to meet these standards as well.
