A steady climb has transformed into a historic economic surge, as Uganda officially reclaimed its title as Africa’s premier coffee exporter, surpassing $2 billion in annual earnings for the first time in history.
According to latest data from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), the country exported a staggering 8.2 million 60kg bags during the 2024/25 coffee year. This surge culminated in an estimated $2.3 billion in revenue—a massive 64% jump from the previous year. By May 2025, Uganda officially overtook Ethiopia in export volume, shipping over 790,000 bags in that month alone.
The “boom” isn’t an accident of nature; it is the result of a calculated, multi-year mobilization effort. Key to this success is the “Mwanyi Terimba” campaign, spearheaded by the Buganda Kingdom, which galvanized thousands of smallholder farmers to return to their plots.
Coupled with government-backed planting programs and high-quality seedlings provided by World Coffee Research initiatives, millions of new trees have finally reached maturity.
While Europe remains the primary destination—with Italy consuming nearly 40% of Uganda’s output—the strategy is shifting. Uganda is now aggressively courting new markets in China, the Middle East, and North Africa to insulate itself from regional price fluctuations.
For the farmers in regions like Ntungamo, the statistics on a page translate to real-world prosperity.
“For the first time in years, we are getting good returns from our harvest,” says one local farmer. “It is encouraging us to invest more in the land rather than just trying to survive.”
However, industry experts urge a “cautious celebration.” While global prices are currently high, veteran exporters in Kampala warn that the market remains at the mercy of Brazil’s harvest cycles. ”
The consensus among leaders is that for Uganda to maintain this momentum, it must pivot from shipping raw green beans to high-value, locally processed soluble coffee.
Despite the success, hurdles remain. The Coffee Black Twig Borer and Coffee Wilt Disease continue to threaten yields, and maintaining consistency across millions of small farms is a logistical hurdle.
Nevertheless, the government remains undeterred, holding onto an ambitious target of 20 million bags by 2030. If the current trajectory holds, the “golden bean” will not just be a crop, but the definitive backbone of Uganda’s modern economy.