How to buy and export coffee from Uganda: robusta, Bugisu arabica, grades and rules
Uganda is Africa's biggest coffee exporter and one of the world's main sources of robusta. Most of its coffee is grown by smallholders and almost all of it is exported as green beans. This guide covers what Uganda produces, how its coffee is graded, who regulates the trade since the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) was dissolved, and what to check before you buy.
Updated November 1, 2026 · 4 sources
Uganda coffee in numbers
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Uganda produced about 6.7 million 60 kg bags in the 2024/25 marketing year (October to September) and exported about 6.35 million. Around 85% is robusta and 15% arabica. Smallholders on farms of 0.5 to 2.5 hectares grow 85 to 90% of the crop, usually intercropped with bananas and beans. In 2024 about 72% of exports by volume went to the European Union, followed by the United States, Morocco, India and China.
Where the coffee grows
| Region | Main areas | Coffee |
|---|---|---|
| Central | Mukono, Luwero and the Lake Victoria basin | Mainly robusta |
| East | Mount Elgon: Mbale, Kapchorwa (Bugisu) | High-grown washed and natural arabica |
| West | Kasese, Bushenyi, Bundibugyo, the Rwenzori mountains | Robusta and arabica, including specialty arabica |
| North-west | Zombo (West Nile) | Emerging high-altitude arabica |
Uganda has more than one harvest a year depending on the region. See our harvest calendar and the Uganda lots page for the months.
Ugandan grades
Ugandan export grades combine the type of coffee with bean size. The names below are the ones the former UCDA used in its grade and price lists:
| Grade | What it is |
|---|---|
| Robusta Screen 18, 15, 12 | Natural robusta graded by screen size; Screen 18 is the largest bean and usually the highest price |
| Wur | Washed Ugandan robusta |
| Bugisu AA, A, PB, B | Washed arabica from Mount Elgon, graded by size; PB is peaberry |
| Wugar | Washed Ugandan arabica from areas other than Bugisu |
| Drugar | Dry-processed (natural) Ugandan arabica |
Before export, clean coffee (called FAQ, fair average quality) is pre-cleaned, de-stoned, sorted by screen size and density, and packed in 60 kg jute bags. Fine robusta that scores 80 points or more is a growing niche; see robusta coffee explained.
Who regulates the trade now
On 20 December 2024 President Museveni signed the National Coffee (Amendment) Act, 2024. It dissolved the UCDA and moved its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). Exporter registration, quality inspection and export certification that UCDA used to handle now sit with the ministry. Rules and fees can change during the transition, so confirm the current requirements with MAAIF directly, not through an intermediary.
Documents to expect
- Export quality certificate for the lot, issued by the coffee regulator.
- ICO certificate of origin, with the lot's identification mark.
- Phytosanitary certificate.
- Commercial invoice, packing list, weight note and bill of lading.
- For the EU: the information needed for EUDR due diligence, including plot geolocation. See our EUDR guide.
Buying tips
- Ask for the exporter's registration and check it with MAAIF.
- Approve a pre-shipment sample from the actual lot and state the screen size, moisture and maximum defects in the contract.
- Ugandan coffee is often quoted FOB Mombasa or FCA at a named place in Uganda, because Uganda is landlocked and ships through Kenya. See how to buy green coffee directly for Incoterms.
- Plan transport time from Kampala to the port, and read shipping green coffee for bag counts and container loads.
Frequently asked questions
What coffee does Uganda produce?
Mostly robusta, about 85% of the crop according to the USDA, plus arabica from Mount Elgon (Bugisu), the Rwenzori mountains and West Nile.
What is Bugisu AA coffee?
Washed arabica from the Mount Elgon area of eastern Uganda, graded AA for the largest beans. Lower size grades are A, B and PB (peaberry).
Does UCDA still exist?
No. The National Coffee (Amendment) Act, 2024, signed on 20 December 2024, dissolved the Uganda Coffee Development Authority and moved its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
Which port does Ugandan coffee ship from?
Uganda is landlocked, so most coffee is trucked or railed to Mombasa in Kenya. Prices are often quoted FOB Mombasa or FCA at a named place in Uganda.
Sources
- USDA Foreign Agricultural Service: Uganda Coffee Annual (UG2025-0001, May 2025) ↗
- Uganda Coffee Development Authority: FAQ on green export coffee (archived grade list) ↗
- SoftPower News: Museveni signs Coffee Bill into law (December 2024) ↗
- ICO: Rules on statistics, certificates of origin (ICC-102-9 Rev. 5) ↗
Checked on November 1, 2026. Laws, rules and prices change: always check the official source before you trade. This guide is general information, not legal advice.