UCDA registers 170,000 coffee farmers in two weeks in bid to meet EUDR
Uganda is home to approximately 1.8 million households that cultivate both Arabica and Robusta coffee
KAMPALA, November 26, 2024 – Days ago, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority [UCDA] reported registering about 170,000 farmers as part of a nationwide initiative to prepare for the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation [ EUDR ], which will take effect on December 30, 2025.
Uganda is home to approximately 1.8 million households that cultivate both Arabica and Robusta coffee. The country ranks second in Africa for coffee production and export, following Ethiopia, with the European Union [EU] being one of its largest markets.
During a coffee stakeholders’ engagement held at Brovard Hotel in Masaka City, Israel Ssebugenyi, a technical expert with UCDA, emphasised that the EU market accounts for 60-65 percent of Uganda’s coffee exports. He stressed that compliance with the EUDR is essential to retain access to this vital market.
The EUDR mandates that commodities such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soy, and wood can only be sold in the EU market if they are deforestation-free, produced in accordance with the relevant national laws, and accompanied by a due diligence statement. The regulation aims to reduce global deforestation, limit the EU’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and help prevent biodiversity loss.
Ssebugenyi said the registration of coffee farmers in compliance with the EUDR will ensure sustainability of the local coffee industry. “This registration process is crucial for the long-term sustainability of our coffee industry and its continued access to global markets,” said Ssebugenyi. “It’s important to note that this registration is for compliance with international standards, not for taxation purposes.”
The government has partnered with Pula, a data solutions provider, to document Uganda’s coffee farms and their owners.
“We have successfully registered 170,000 farmers, and we are continuously collecting data. Our goal is to reach 1.8 million coffee farmers by the end of December,” said Ivan Mugeere, Pula’s Country Lead. “This will help Uganda meet EU trade regulations and ensure that our coffee is traceable from farm to export.”
Enumerators are using a custom-developed mobile application to gather detailed data on farmers and their farms. The information collected includes farmer details, farm size, coffee varieties, and other relevant data. Pula employs a thorough validation process to cross-check and clean the data for accuracy, ensuring it meets international standards before submission for third-party approval.
The registration process is expected to cover all coffee-growing districts by December, with most regions already reached. Registration in the West Nile region began on November 11, 2024.
The government allocated a total of Shs 13.9 billion in the 2024/25 financial year budget to implement the National Traceability System.
At the Masaka meeting, local government leaders, farmers, and industry stakeholders discussed the importance of the EUDR registration process. Masaka Resident District Commissioner Huddu Hussein urged all parties to stay focused on meeting the December deadline, warning against politicizing the registration efforts.
“We must work together as a nation to ensure that our farmers are well-informed and fully compliant with the regulations,” he said.
While the EU remains Uganda’s primary coffee market, the country is working to diversify and expand exports to new regions, including China, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The meeting in Masaka was attended by local government officials and coffee farmers from districts such as Masaka, Rakai, Kalungu, and Bukomansimbi.
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