New Coffee Factory in Luweero to Boost Farmers' Earnings

A new state-of-the-art coffee factory in Luweero, located in Wobulenzi along the Kampala-Gulu Road, is set to transform the fortunes of farmers, improve coffee quality, and enhance value addition. The factory was constructed by the Uganda Coffee Farmers Alliance (UCFA) with support from the European Union under the European Union-East African Community Market Access Upgrade Programme (EU-EAC MARKUP).

With a processing capacity of 50 metric tonnes of coffee daily, the facility serves 24 cooperatives in Luweero, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, and Kayunga, benefiting 60,000 households. Tony Mugoya, the Executive Director of UCFA, noted that despite Luweero's substantial production of Robusta coffee, farmers have struggled with post-harvest handling and a lack of processing facilities.

Previously, the absence of local processing facilities forced farmers to sell cherries or "kiboko" to middlemen, resulting in low prices. Additionally, limited awareness of coffee quality parameters and the benefits of proper coffee handling hindered farmers from earning better prices.

Mugoya is optimistic that the new factory, along with ongoing training on coffee quality, will significantly improve farmers' earnings. He explained, “Farmers can now dry their coffee to the correct moisture content, bring it to the factory for hulling, bulk it, and export it directly to buyers.” He also mentioned that UCFA offers a financing programme that provides credit to cooperative members at affordable interest rates, helping them avoid the need to sell unripe cherries due to financial constraints.

These remarks were made during a visit by officials from the European Union Delegation in Uganda, led by Sanne Willems, Head of Sustainable Development, alongside UCDA staff. The visit aimed to assess the achievements of the EU-EAC MARKUP.

Mugoya expressed gratitude to the EU for their support in establishing the modern coffee factory. UCFA has a similar facility in Mityana, also funded by the EU. During their visit, the delegates inspected various sections of the factory, including the hullers, gravity separator, dryer, husk chamber, coffee laboratory, and warehouse.

The UCFA has also established a coffee laboratory where coffee from the cooperatives is roasted, cupped, and profiled before export to meet the specific demands of buyers. This level of value addition has enabled farmers to earn more, and the lab also serves as a training centre for youth.

The team also visited Kyalugondo Farmers' Cooperative Society. The cooperative's chairperson highlighted the factory's critical role in transforming the livelihoods of coffee farmers. As one of the 112 cooperatives that make up UCFA, Kyalugondo has benefited from improved drying practices and expert agronomy, which have increased production and market access.

The EU team further explored the UCFA coffee laboratory, where they cupped some of the Robusta coffees produced by different cooperatives. Mugoya emphasised the focus on quality throughout the value chain, ensuring that farmers receive higher prices for their coffee. The factory serves as a one-stop processing centre for export-ready coffee, equipped with advanced machinery such as hullers, cleaners, graders, colour sorters, gravity separators, a dryer, and warehouses, making it the first facility of its kind in the region.