BCU revenues surge to Shs 19bln on strong coffee sales in 2025
The figures were unveiled by the Union’s Chairman, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, during the 65th Annual General Meeting [AGM] held at its headquarters in Mbale City on Monday
MBALE CITY, March 31, 2026 — The Bugisu Cooperative Union [BCU] has reported a sharp rise in revenues, with earnings from Arabica coffee sales reaching Shs 19 billion in the 2025 financial year, up from Shs 6bln in 2024.
The figures were unveiled by the Union’s Chairman, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, during the 65th Annual General Meeting [AGM] held at its headquarters in Mbale City on Monday.
Mafabi attributed the improved performance to a significant increase in coffee delivery volumes, which rose from 165,280 kilogrammes in 2024 to 324,128kgs in the year ending 2025.
“As you can see from the financial statements, the Union realised profits from coffee exports,” he said, noting that the stronger financial position has enabled it to expand its social support programmes.
The Union confirmed that it has sponsored 231 students for tertiary education this year and paid second instalments to farmers who supplied coffee during the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons.
However, farmers at the AGM raised concerns over the proliferation of counterfeit agro-inputs on the market, urging the BCU leadership to intervene to safeguard coffee quality.
In response, Mafabi said the Union plans to establish an agro-inputs shop within the region to provide farmers with reliable supplies.
He also cautioned against excessive use of artificial fertilisers, encouraging farmers to adopt organic alternatives.
“I urge you to minimise the use of artificial fertilisers and instead use manure and organic waste,” he said.
The Union’s Vice Chairperson, John Musila announced plans to renovate dilapidated primary cooperative societies across the Union’s nine zones.
“The more coffee a society delivers, the higher the priority it will receive in this renovation phase,” Musila said.
Value addition push
Mafabi also called on the farmers to embrace value addition, stressing that local coffee processing and consumption are key to shielding the farmers from volatility in the prices.
He highlighted that plans are underway to establish a large-scale coffee processing plant aimed at improving farmers’ incomes and strengthening the regional coffee value chain.
He also urged coffee farmers to avoid middlemen, whom he accused of exploiting producers.
Miriam Hamega, a senior official from the Office of the Registrar of Cooperatives who attended the meeting as Chief Guest, urged cooperators in the Bugisu sub-region to unite and support BCU. She also called for greater participation of youth and women in the Union’s activities.
As the 2026 season approaches, BCU leadership has rallied farmers to work together to restore the Union’s position as one of Africa’s leading coffee cooperatives, while prioritising completion of the multi-billion Musundi House project in Mbale City.
https://thecooperator.news/bcu-to-renovate-primary-cooperative-societies-across-nine-zones/
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