Ugandan coffee outshines world’s best at Houston expo

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Uganda’s coffee is nearing recognition as one of the world’s premier speciality coffees after taking part in the coffee cupping sessions at the Speciality Coffee Expo, which wrapped up on Sunday, April 27, in Houston, Texas.

In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries said Mountain Harvest stood out among the ten Ugandan coffee exporters at the expo, which sought to connect local stakeholders with international buyers across the coffee industry.

The Speciality Coffee Expo, a premier event for the global coffee industry, attracted over 10,000 attendees from more than 80 countries, providing a platform for producers, buyers, and industry experts to share ideas in the coffee sector.

During the expo, Ugandans took advantage of the cupping sessions — a standardised method of tasting and evaluating coffee, focusing on taste, aroma, mouthfeel, and overall quality — to position their coffee. Upon testing, Ugandan coffee was found to have a distinct flavour profile, impressing judges, some of whom are buyers.

“One Ugandan coffee product, Mountain Harvest, made it to the finals of the prestigious Sustainable Coffee Award, a testament to the country's commitment to sustainable coffee production,” the statement said.

The Ministry added that although the final results will be announced later, the nomination alone has generated significant excitement within the industry.

The Ugandan delegation, led by Dr Gerald Kyalo, commissioner for coffee development at the agriculture ministry, met with Uganda’s Ambassador to the United States, Robie Kakonge, who commended the ministry’s efforts in promoting Ugandan coffee.

"We are thrilled with the response to Ugandan coffee at the expo. This event has provided a valuable platform for our exporters to connect with global buyers and showcase the quality of our coffee products,” Kyalo said.

The expo also attracted other dignitaries, including the secretary general of the Inter-African Coffee Organisation (IACO), Amb. Solomon Rutega and board members of the African Fine Coffees Association.

Some of the ten coffee companies that represented Uganda’s coffee sector at the expo include: Kenneth Barigye (Mountain Harvest), Julius Kalulu (JKCC), Barbra Mugenyi (Kwezi Coffee), Mrs Kato (Zigoti Coffee), Alfred Wasikye (Chanzo Coffee), Luke Wephkhulu (MEACCE), Johnson Nuwagaba (Nilotic Coffee House), Juma Bunkeddeko (Empire Coffee), Mike Mukasa (East African Coffees), and Minorvia Migadde (Coffee World).