Uganda's Arabica Crop Outlook 

This article at a glance:  

• On the national scale, Arabica production is expected to drop by approximately 100,000 bags, mainly due to late and insufficient rainfall along with shifting weather patterns. 
• While we are expecting to a smaller harvest, our team in Uganda ensures every lot processed at Ugacof’s washing station is fully floated to maintain optimal quality for clients.  
• Although the 2026 season remains challenging, ongoing support initiatives and early flowering ahead of the second harvest provide cautious optimism for future production. 

This year’s Arabica harvest in Western Uganda is expected to be reduced, with an estimated total production of around 5,000 MT. According to Loic Dugast, Arabica Supply Chain Coordinator at Ugacof (Sucafina in Uganda), this sharp decrease was driven by several factors, including late and insufficient rainfall, along with shifting weather patterns and market corrections. These elements led many local traders to “home process” nearly 20% of the crop. In contrast, last year's early rains and strong market prices encouraged a larger volume of cherries to enter the CWS. 

Prolonged off‑cycle conditions and recent dry spells have further depleted moisture in lowland trees, increasing the percentage of floaters and reducing the cherry‑to‑green‑bean conversion ratio.  

“Overall, cherries are expected to be smaller. However, every lot that arrived at our CWS will be fully floated to ensure quality,” Loic said.  

Arabica harvesting is already underway and will continue through late April and possibly, mid‑May. Most cherries are now ripe, though some areas still show green or yellow cherries, which are expected to mature within the next two to three weeks. The second harvest is anticipated to begin in late August and run through the end of October or mid‑November. 

Our dedicated team in Uganda continues to strengthen coffee production across the region, and the team will focus on leveraging opportunities and executing consistently across all stages of the season to ensure the best result. As mentioned, there are encouraging signs for the 2026 second harvest, and field observations indicate early flowering, suggesting that the next harvest could also start ahead of schedule. 

Sustainability Efforts in Uganda 

To help with farmer financing, we took a small but promising step forward by launching a microcredit trial. We partnered with a third party and tested a short-term farmer financing program with 44 farmers in the West and 70 farmers in central regions. Credit limits were determined based on each farmer’s past transaction data and capacity. This method helps encourage traceability and reward loyalty with a well-priced loan in subsequent periods.  

Even with training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and new access to appropriate credit (short and long term), many farmers who want to invest in their farms face the barrier of inadequate seedling availability.  The need for seedlings stems from several challenges: low tree density, aging and low-yielding coffee tree populations. In addition, there is a growing number of new farmers establishing coffee gardens.  

Sucafina has, accordingly, scaled up our seedling programs by building and managing our own nurseries since 2025. This project is currently implemented throughout Western Uganda and provides approximately 1.5 million seedlings each year. These seedlings are distributed to farmers at no cost, supporting long‑term efforts to boost coffee production in the region.  

We also continue to assist farmers in Uganda with our Beyond Flagship program. Our Tools for Prosperity project equips IMPACT-verified smallholder coffee farmers delivering to Katerera Coffee Washing Station (CWS) in Uganda with essential farming tools and practical support. By providing tool kits that include hoes, spades and pruning saws, this initiative tackles limited access to essential farm equipment. The project supports IMPACT goals by contributing to wider yield-increasing initiatives and building capacity to improve farmer prosperity through access to tools, practical skills and improved management practices. 

Additional Special Projects  

Additionally, we have various activities under other projects to support farmers in Uganda. Ugacof is implementing large-scale, integrated sustainability projects aimed at creating a fully traceable, regenerative and market‑ready Arabica supply chain.  

At the core is the establishment of a fully traceable coffee system supported by farmer registration, digital farmer cards and structured data collection across the value chain. These systems enable reliable farm-level visibility, strengthen internal inspection and certification processes and ensure that coffee sourcing can be verified from origin to export. Digital payment systems further enhance transparency and service delivery while incentivizing farmers to actively participate in traceability mechanisms.  

The projects also drive regenerative agriculture at scale through the establishment of demonstration plots, agroforestry nurseries and the distribution of coffee and shade tree seedlings. Farmers are trained in climate-smart agricultural practices, including soil health management and sustainable land use, supported by the provision of improved inputs such as organic fertilizer produced from coffee by-products (pulp). These interventions enhance productivity while restoring ecosystem health and building long-term climate resilience. Additional efforts include training field staff and upgrading washing stations with eco‑friendly machinery. Comprehensive data‑tracking systems ensure measurable, verifiable sustainability outcomes aligned with international standards. 

Together, these interventions form a scalable model supporting up to 15,000 farmers (out of 30,000+ registered), helping integrate finance, productivity and sustainability into a unified system that enables compliance with high‑standard global markets. 

Much like previous work in Rwanda, the Ugacof team is collaborating with Green Coffee Merchant and Specialty Researcher Anička Marková to explore methods of adding value to our Ugandan coffee offerings. Together, they are experimenting with different processing methods such as anaerobic natural, anaerobic fermentation, lactic fermentation and yeast inoculation across our western washing stations, adapting processes to the unique environmental conditions at each site.   

Investing in the future of Ugandan Coffee 

From expanding specialty and adding value at point of cherry purchase to helping farmers sow greater profitability on their own farms, our teams’ collaborative efforts aim to add value, improve yields, and work towards more consistent cup profiles. In the long run, all these efforts seek to increase farmer access to higher-value markets and make quality Ugandan coffee more readily available to roasters.  

If you're sourcing from Uganda, ask your partners how they’re addressing ongoing needs on the ground. If you plan to purchase through Sucafina’s networks, connect with your trader to explore how you can support these initiatives. 

Of course, we also offer coffees that are EUDR-ready and IMPACT-verified, as well as selections connected to the Beyond Flagship program in Uganda. With the Arabica harvest nearing completion, it’s the perfect time to connect with your trader to discuss available lots and upcoming offers.