Uganda's coffee wows new Italian ambassador

Dec 10, 2019

In 2016, Uganda moved past Mexico to become one of the world’s largest producers of coffee, after it exported 288,000 metric tonnes of coffee.

AGRICULTURE   

KAMPALA - Italian's new envoy to Uganda, Massimiliano Mazzanti has praised Uganda for producing one of the finest coffees in the world which he said is vendible on the world market.

Uganda ranks number eight among the top ten coffee producing countries across the world. In 2016, Uganda moved past Mexico to become one of the world's largest producers of coffee, after it exported 288,000 metric tonnes of coffee.

Uganda grows both Robusta beans, a crop native to the Kibale forest area, as well as Arabica beans from nearby Ethiopia.

"Uganda produces the best coffee in the world and has been appreciated because of its quality," Massimiliano said.

According to Nelson Tugume, the Chief Executive officer (CEO) Inspire Africa Coffee, 60% of Ugandan coffee is exported to Italy.

Speaking during the pass out of about 50 youth from the districts of Arua, Gulu, Kampala, Tororo, that had acquired skills in coffee handling such as coffee roasting and cupping at consumption level, in Kampala, Massimiliano commended Uganda for its marketing skills, which he said had helped to promote the already good coffee and tourism.

He said its marketing technics had enabled the country to attract tourists to Uganda to see mountain gorillas, which are also available in neighbouring countries like Rwanda.

Just like Uganda, Massimiliano implored the youth that were skilled in the coffee product, to market themselves as best coffee handlers, to be able to benefit from Uganda's coffee industry.

"Be the market manager of yourself. Look inside yourself for something you like to do. Everybody has a talent," Massimiliano said.

To promote local coffee consumption which currently stands at only 15%, Inspire Africa coffee said would give out five coffee booths to the youth as startup capital in their respective districts.

According to Rowland Tayebwa, the head of training and skilling at Inspire Africa Coffee, the offer won't only promote employment of the youth, but also increase local consumption of coffee among the locals from the districts where the coffee booths will be established.

"We have done this, to encourage our young people to join coffee production and consumption. We feel if we promote coffee consumption, we shall be able to support our own national budget and also grow our economy," Tayebwa noted.

Morris Kawuma, one of the beneficiaries said he plans to start up a coffee shop, to practice his newfound passion for coffee, as well as promote coffee consumption in the country.

As a way of promoting coffee production and consumption, Tayebwe implored the government to formulate policies that are geared towards coffee farming and consumption by Ugandans.

Mid this year, the government introduced the National Coffee Bill, 2018, which seeks to regulate all on-farm and off-farm farm activities in the coffee value chain, repealing the existing law such as the Uganda Coffee Development Authority Act, 1991, which only looked at off-farm activities.

The Bill currently before Parliament has since been opposed by a cross-section of stakeholders as aimed at fighting coffee farming. But the government has maintained that the law is well-intentioned for improved quality of Uganda's coffee for the international market.

Barrasa Oggajja, the RDC Mbale,  Massimiliano Mazzanti the Italian Ambassador to Uganda, Harriet Mudondo the executive director Inspire Africa Coffee, tasting Uganda's coffee in Kampala.

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