Uganda aims to register 2.8mln coffee farmers ahead of EUDR deadline
Under the EUDR, companies placing or supplying goods in the EU market, or exporting them from the EU, must conduct due diligence to ensure their products are not linked to deforestation or forest degradation
KAMPALA, May 28, 2025 — Uganda has revised its target to register 2.8 million coffee farmers, more than double its initial projection, as it intensifies efforts to comply with the European Union Deforestation-Free Products Regulation [ EUDR ], which comes into effect on 1 January 2026.
The EUDR mandates that agricultural commodities imported into the EU, including coffee, soybeans, palm oil, wood, beef, rubber, and cocoa, must not originate from land that has been deforested. Uganda, along with other producing nations, has until December 30, 2025 to meet the regulation’s requirements.
In April 2025, Uganda launched a new phase of the registration campaign, targeting an additional 900,000 coffee farmers. So far, 350,000 have already been added, bringing the total number of registered farmers to 1.25 million. The goal is to reach 1.8 million by the end of June and ultimately 2.8 million nationwide, according to officials overseeing the exercise.
The registration is being carried out through the country’s newly introduced digital coffee traceability system, developed specifically to meet EUDR compliance standards. This system allows the tracking and verification of coffee throughout the supply chain, from farm to consumer.
“Digital traceability is the future of coffee exports,” said Judith Muvara, Advocacy and Communications Officer at Café Africa, the coordination body supporting the implementation of EU coffee regulations. “Major exporters like Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd have already adopted these tools. We encourage all farmers to register, so we can move forward together as a sector.”
Currently, registration remains voluntary. However, unregistered farmers risk being excluded from international markets, as buyers increasingly demand proof of traceability and sustainability.
Uganda is Africa’s second-largest coffee producer and one of the top ten exporters globally. According to the latest market report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, the country exported 6.87 million bags of coffee worth US$1.84 billion in the twelve months from April 2024 to March 2025. This marks a significant increase from the 5.99 million bags valued at US$999.48 million exported in the previous year.
Compliance and enforcement
Under the EUDR, companies placing or supplying goods in the EU market, or exporting them from the EU, must conduct due diligence to ensure their products are not linked to deforestation or forest degradation. The regulation requires the use of a centralised digital platform to report and verify the origin and characteristics of covered products.
The law will be enforced by individual EU member states, with potential penalties for non-compliance. Key EU countries that import Uganda’s coffee—including Arabica and Robusta—include Italy, Germany, Spain, Belgium, France, Turkey, Portugal, and Poland.
“This is a race against time,” Muvara added. “But it is also an opportunity for Uganda to lead by example and build a more transparent, resilient coffee sector.”
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