More Ugandan coffee breaks into South African market 

KAMPALA – Uganda stands to ship more coffee to South Africa following a partnership between a consortium of Ugandan coffee exporters and a Johannesburg-based business collective.

The shipping of more coffee into one of Africa’s most robust economies opens access to a multi-billion-shilling coffee market, with projected annual earnings for Uganda estimated at over Shs 6 billion.

The initiative is being spearheaded by Ugandans living in South Africa, under the umbrella of the Confederation of Ugandans Living in Southern Africa [COUSA], as a strategic move to introduce and expand Uganda’s coffee footprint across the region.

Alongside private coffee exporters, COUSA has called on the Ugandan Government to support their efforts, with the aim of exporting over 200 tonnes of coffee to South Africa annually. The broader plan also involves expanding into neighbouring markets such as Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Malawi.

COUSA President, Moses Kibombo Ssentongo, revealed that the first consignment, 100 tonnes of green coffee beans valued at Shs 1.8 billion was recently well received in South Africa, sparking significant consumer interest.

“The demand here is overwhelming,” Kibombo said in an online interview. “Consumers are excited about Ugandan coffee, and we must scale up our exports at least quarterly to meet the growing demand.”

Kibombo further noted that South African authorities currently prefer green coffee beans. He urged the Ugandan Government to address non-tariff barriers, particularly those affecting the export of roasted coffee, to facilitate the access of value-added Ugandan products into the market.

In Africa, South Africa ranks as Uganda’s third-largest buyer of Ugandan coffee after Sudan and Egypt, highlighting its importance as a strategic export destination. According to the Agriculture ministry’s Monthly Coffee Report July-2025, Uganda shipped 3,655 60-kilogrammes to South Africa in June 2025.

One of the key partners facilitating this trade is Ladha Ya Africa, a South African firm that has joined forces with Ugandan companies to strengthen bilateral trade in coffee. The company’s Director of Market Development, Julius Muwonge, said these partnerships are vital for Uganda’s ambitious target of achieving US$ 6 billion in coffee export revenues.

“This initiative not only boosts Uganda’s export figures but also transforms the livelihoods of coffee farmers back home,” Muwonge said.

In Uganda, Ladha Ya Africa works in partnership with Velvet Café Limited to market and export finished coffee products to South Africa. Through this collaboration, coffee hubs have been established in major cities including Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Soweto, and Gothenburg. These hubs aim to promote coffee consumption and streamline the distribution of Ugandan coffee.

The trade hubs include warehousing, showrooms, and coffee shops exclusively serving Ugandan coffee. This infrastructure allows importers to manage the supply chain more efficiently while giving consumers better access to premium Ugandan coffee products.

Exporters have also secured sourcing partnerships in Uganda’s key coffee-growing regions such as Bugisu, Buganda, and Ankole. These partnerships are designed to build a sustainable, dependable supply chain managed by local agents and farming cooperatives.

Market analysts in South Africa project that the country’s coffee market is set to grow at an annual rate of 8.64 percent between 2023 and 2028, which is an opportunity for the Ugandan exporters.

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