UCDA re-opens primary coffee factories in Buganda and Busoga
KAMPALA, October 12, 2023 – The Uganda Coffee Development Authority [UCDA] has reopened all primary coffee factories in the Greater Mukono, Greater Luweero, and Busoga regions, effective October 11, 2023.
According to UCDA, the factories had been temporarily sealed to facilitate the natural ripening of coffee cherries in the farms.
According to Coffee Regulations [1994], coffee farmers and dealers are supposed to harvest only red ripe cherries, dry the harvested coffee on raised chambers or tarpaulins and factories must have cemented floors.
UCDA says the reopening was done after an assessment of the factories on quality standards.
“Coffee traders, farmers, and processors are urged to adhere to coffee regulations. Specifically, they are required to hull well-dried coffee, harvest only ripe cherries, and implement proper post-harvest practices to ensure high-quality coffee production and comply with the Coffee law,” says UCD.
UCDA adds that the collaboration and cooperation of all stakeholders is required to ensure that the quality of Ugandan coffee is sustained.
Closure of coffee factories over the years
In 2013, UCDA closed over 50 factories in Luweero, Mubende, Kiboga, Mpigi, Mityana, and Gomba districts.
UCDA further closed down 48 coffee processing factories in Kayunga District over poor hygiene and processing immature berries.
Still in 2017, UCDA closed primary coffee factories in the districts of Bukomansibi, Kalungu, Sembabule, Lwengo, Rakai, and Lyantonde.
In July 2018, UCDA closed 22 factories in Rukungiri and Kanungu districts, which were substandard.
Some of the closed factories include; Rwenkureijo Coffee Factory, Bukarasa Coffee Factory, Mabanga Coffee Factory, KICOFA Coffee Factory, Kebisoni Coffee Factory, Muhindi Coffee Factory, Day & Night Coffee Factory, Kasoroza Coffee Factory, Rwebikoona Coffee Factory, Nyakagyeme Coffee Factory, and Katobo Coffee Factory.
Others were Bwoma Coffee Factory, Katobo Upper Coffee Factory, Kironde Coffee Factory, Kashenyi Coffee Factory, Joshua Stage Coffee Factory in Kanungu those closed are Kanyantorogo Coffee Factory, Calist Coffee Factory, Bwindi Coffee Factory, and Butogota Coffee Factory among others.
The factories were closed because UCDA found them with green coffee beans mixed with red cherries, they were also drying coffee on bare the bare ground and had moldy coffee in the stores while others lacked standard husk collection chambers, which allowed dust to spill over, polluting the processed cherries.
According to UCDA, at the time the factories were closed, Uganda was risking a ban of its coffee on the international market if quality regulations were not strictly implemented.
However, UCDA said by closing primary coffee factories, farmers would also benefit because they had been losing profits because of selling immature coffee.
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