By David Rupiny

Uganda’s coffee industry has reached a new milestone after a premium Natural Geisha lot from Rwenzori Estate Farm sold for a record $350.02 (UGX1.28 million) per kilogramme at a specialty coffee auction in London.

The auction, held from July 6 to 8 was organized by specialty coffee producer Mountain Harvest in partnership with auction house M-Cultivo and attracted over 1,000 bids from international buyers.

Tha auction achieved a weighted average price of $24.32 (UGX90,000) per kilogramme, above prices normally associated with conventional coffee markets.

According to Kenneth Barigye of Mountain Harvest, the results show that Uganda’s coffee sector can move beyond dependence on internatonal commodity prices and create more value at the point of production.

Barigye said for decades, the coffee industry largely asked producers to fit within a price determined elsewhere, noting that the auction points to a different future where value is created and recognized at origin.

He said it had been known that Ugandan coffee has special character but the challenge has been finding buyers who recognize the effort that goes into producing high-quality beans.

The development highlights growing international interest in Uganda’s high-quality coffees. Industry players say the auction demonstrates the growing value of producing exceptional coffee with clear origin, quality, and traceability.

Uganda is Africa’s leading exporter of coffee beans and is one of the world’s leading producers of Robusta coffee.

The record auction price has drawn attention to Uganda’s Arabica coffee-producing regions of Nebbi-Zombo-Arua, Mount Elgon, Rwenzori Mountains, and Kigezi, among others.

Investment and business opportunities abound in the coffee and cocoa sector.

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