Uganda coffee exports surge to US$2.3bn amid new tourism push

Uganda is experiencing a significant surge in its coffee sector, with annual exports reaching approximately 8.8 million 60kg bags valued at roughly US$2.3 billion to US$2.4 billion. This growth represents a substantial increase from the previous year and establishes the country as Africa’s largest coffee exporter by volume. The International Coffee Organization has characterized this expansion as a structural upward trajectory rather than a cyclical rebound.

To capitalize on this boom, Uganda is integrating coffee production with tourism. The emerging coffee tourism strategy aims to link the export industry with visitor experiences at farms, processing parks, and rural lodges. This agro-tourism initiative is part of the government’s broader economic goals, including the Tenfold Growth Strategy, which seeks to expand the national GDP significantly by 2040.

However, regional tourism ambitions face challenges due to high travel costs. Business leaders at the Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism and Innovation Summit noted that expensive flights between Uganda and Kenya, such as the route between Entebbe and Nairobi, act as a barrier to increasing visitor numbers and spending within the East African region.