UCA trains cooperatives on coffee value chain and agro-industrialisation
MBALE CITY, December 7, 2025 — The Uganda Cooperative Alliance [UCA] on Wednesday conducted a regional capacity-building training on coffee value chain development and agro-industrialisation for cooperatives.
The training, held at Mbale Courts View Hotel in Mbale City, aimed to strengthen cooperative-led enterprise growth, enhance value addition, and improve market access for coffee farmers in Eastern Uganda.
The engagement forms part of UCA’s broader mandate to build the capacity of its members and aligns with Uganda’s National Development Plan [NDP IV], which seeks to increase coffee production, promote value addition, and expand the participation of producer organisations in structured export markets.
During the training, Justine Khainza, UCA’s Head of Partnerships, noted that many cooperatives in Uganda continue to face governance challenges. She explained that UCA provides sensitisation on key cooperative principles.
“We also encourage cooperatives to bring young people on board because the youth introduce new skills, especially in areas such as ICT, and they ensure continuity. We are also emphasising local coffee consumption to boost the domestic market,” she added.
Faizal Kwita, a Regional Agricultural Officer under the Coffee Development Elgon Team in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, said the training focused on increasing efforts to help farmers maximise production per coffee tree.
“We are also looking at rehabilitation programmes for old coffee trees. Some farmers still have trees that are 20, 30, or even 70 years old, yet they produce very little. This has kept productivity low,” he said.
According to Oliver Kishelo of Buuka Women Multipurpose Cooperative in Bulambuli district, coffee farmers face several challenges, including poor road networks, limited access to markets, and lack of financial support.
“Our members are working hard, but the cost of transporting coffee is too high because many of our roads are in a terrible state,” Kishelo said.
She added: “We also struggle to find reliable buyers, and without financial support, most farmers cannot expand their farms or improve quality. These challenges slow down the growth we want to achieve as cooperatives.”
The Mbale Resident City Commissioner, George William Wopuwa, urged cooperatives to be more strategic if they are to thrive and contribute to the socio-economic transformation of communities and the country at large.
“Cooperatives need to think beyond primary production and begin positioning themselves for value addition and broader market opportunities,” Wopuwa said.
“If you organise well, you can attract investors, strengthen bargaining power, and improve household incomes. It is time for cooperatives to take the lead in transforming our coffee sector.”
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