Uganda’s Agriculture Ministry takes over coffee, cocoa value chain development project
UGANDA – Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) has assumed control of the Coffee and Cocoa Value Chain Development project (CoCoDev) following the recent rationalization process that integrated the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) into the ministry in January.
Previously managed by UCDA, CoCoDev is a 25.5 billion shilling initiative co-funded by the European Union to enhance Uganda’s coffee and cocoa sectors.
The project, which commenced in March 2022 and is set to run until September 2027, aims to support coffee and cocoa policy implementation, improve commercial production, minimize post-harvest losses, and expand market opportunities.
In a statement, MAAIF Permanent Secretary Maj. Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama reassured all project beneficiaries that implementation would continue as planned.
He urged stakeholders to maintain preparations for the upcoming planting season in March and affirmed that the ministry would adhere to all contractual obligations initially signed by UCDA.
“International processes to change signatories of the bank accounts are underway in accordance with the Public Finance and Management Act,” the statement read.
Between August and October 2024, CoCoDev disbursed matching grants worth 12.6 billion shillings to 152 beneficiaries through a competitive and transparent selection process.
Under this reimbursable grant, which the government co-funds up to 53%, recipients will cultivate 3,497 acres of coffee and 552 acres of cocoa.
Meanwhile, the government has called on the National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) to accelerate the development of climate-resistant coffee varieties to safeguard Uganda’s coffee sector from climate change-related challenges.
Legislators highlighted the need for agricultural innovation to secure the future of coffee production, a major contributor to Uganda’s economy.
In response, NaCORI Executive Director Godfrey Arinaitwe revealed that the institute has developed ten climate-resilient coffee varieties, labeled KR-1 to KR-10.
These varieties are currently undergoing trials in northern Uganda and Karamoja, where researchers are analyzing soil and climatic conditions to assess their adaptability.
As Africa’s second-largest coffee exporter, Uganda’s coffee industry supports the livelihoods of approximately 12 million people.
With coffee cultivation spanning 126 out of 135 districts—primarily in the central, eastern, and western regions—the sector contributes between 15-17 percent of the country’s export earnings.
In 2024, Uganda exported 6.37 million bags of coffee valued at US$1.55 billion, reflecting a 4.12 percent increase in quantity and a 60.61 percent surge in value compared to 2023.
December 2024 exports remained robust, with 413,221 60-kg bags generating US$115.02 million, up from 400,536 bags worth US$108.91 million in November.
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