By Karim Were
KAMPALA, Uganda —Uganda’s coffee industry is preparing for a major gathering of farmers, exporters, traders, roasters and other sector stakeholders as the country seeks to strengthen its position in the global coffee market.
The Uganda Coffee and Cocoa Expo 2026 is scheduled to take place at Kampala Serena Hotel from August 13 to 15, bringing together participants from across the coffee and cocoa value chains.
The organisers say the event will focus on innovation, sustainability and expanding Uganda’s global reach in coffee and cocoa.
The three-day event is expected to provide a platform for industry participants to discuss developments affecting production, processing, trade and market access.
#Industry seeks greater value from coffee
Coffee is one of Uganda’s most important agricultural commodities and a major source of income for farming households.
For many smallholder farmers, coffee provides a long-term cash crop whose earnings can support household needs, including education, housing and farm investment.
However, increasing the benefits received by farmers requires attention to productivity, quality, processing and market access.
The expo’s focus on innovation and global reach comes as the industry looks beyond the production of raw coffee towards greater value addition and stronger participation in international markets.
#Farmers and exporters to meet
The event’s target participants include coffee farmers, exporters, roasters, traders, industry experts and government officials.
Bringing different parts of the value chain together could allow producers and businesses to exchange information on market requirements and emerging opportunities.
The programme includes knowledge and innovation sessions, exhibitions, panel discussions, workshops, product demonstrations and business networking.
A business matchmaking component is also scheduled, providing opportunities for pre-arranged meetings between buyers and investors.
#Innovation takes centre stage*
Technology and innovation are expected to feature prominently during the event.
Agriculture is increasingly being affected by changing weather conditions, rising production costs and evolving market requirements.
For coffee farmers, innovation can take different forms, including improved planting materials, better soil management, farm-level processing, digital services and improved access to market information.
Research in Uganda has also explored technology-based approaches to agriculture, including systems that monitor environmental conditions and provide farmers with information that can improve production decisions.
#Sustainability becomes a business issue
Sustainability is also becoming increasingly important in agricultural trade.
Coffee-producing countries face pressure to maintain production while protecting soil, water and biodiversity.
Practices such as mulching, cover crops and shade management can help farmers improve soil conditions and reduce vulnerability to dry conditions.
Recent reporting on coffee growers in Uganda’s Masaka region has highlighted farmers using regenerative agriculture practices to cope with drought and unpredictable rainfall.
Such approaches could become increasingly relevant as producers seek to maintain yields while adapting to changing environmental conditions.
#Global market opportunities
The coffee industry operates within an international market where quality, consistency and traceability can influence commercial opportunities.
Uganda’s ability to benefit from growing global demand will therefore depend not only on how much coffee is produced but also on the quality and reliability of its supply.
Processors and exporters can play a role by strengthening handling, processing and quality-control systems.
Farmers, meanwhile, need access to extension services and inputs that enable them to produce consistent quality.
#Importance of farmer participation
While exporters and processors play important roles in the coffee value chain, farmers remain at its foundation.
Their production decisions determine the quality and volume of coffee entering the market.
Greater farmer participation in sector discussions can help ensure that policies and commercial strategies address challenges at farm level.
Issues such as access to seedlings, farm inputs, labour, financing, weather information and reliable markets remain important to the profitability of smallholder production.
#Digital agriculture and market information
Digital technology is another area with potential to improve the coffee value chain.
Farmers can increasingly use mobile technologies to access information, communicate with buyers and receive agricultural advice.
Digital systems can also support traceability and record-keeping, areas that are becoming more important as international markets demand greater information about agricultural supply chains.
However, digital solutions need to be accompanied by training and affordable access if smallholder farmers are to benefit fully.
#Coffee and rural livelihoods
The performance of Uganda’s coffee sector has consequences beyond export statistics.
Coffee income supports households and rural economies, with farmers spending earnings on education, food, healthcare, housing and other necessities.
When farmers receive better returns, money circulates through local communities, supporting traders, transporters, labourers and other businesses.
Strengthening the coffee value chain can therefore contribute to broader rural economic activity.
#Building a stronger value chain
The expo provides an opportunity for Uganda’s coffee industry to examine weaknesses across the value chain and identify areas for improvement.
These may include farm productivity, post-harvest handling, processing, financing, market access and international promotion.
Closer cooperation between farmers, private-sector companies, government agencies and development partners could help address some of these challenges.
The emphasis on knowledge exchange and business networking at the event is intended to encourage such collaboration.
#Looking ahead
The coffee sector will also have to navigate climate-related risks.
Uganda’s official climate outlook for June-August 2026 indicates that much of the country could experience near-normal to below-normal rainfall and warmer-than-average temperatures, while conditions vary by region. ([Weather Information Dissemination System
For coffee growers, this makes soil and water management increasingly important.
The experience of farmers adopting regenerative practices demonstrates that adaptation can take place at farm level, but wider adoption will require access to knowledge, inputs and markets.
#Conclusion
The Uganda Coffee and Cocoa Expo 2026 comes at a significant moment for the country’s agricultural sector.
By bringing farmers, exporters, traders, roasters, investors and policymakers together, the event offers an opportunity to examine how Uganda can increase the value generated from coffee and strengthen its position in international markets.
The focus on innovation, sustainability and global market access also reflects wider changes facing agriculture.
For Uganda’s coffee industry, long-term growth will depend on improving productivity and quality while ensuring that farmers are equipped to withstand climate pressures and participate more effectively in profitable markets.
Uganda’s coffee industry is set to discuss innovation, sustainability and global markets at the 2026 Coffee and Cocoa Expo in Kampala.
Source. Be blessed 🇺🇬
