By Buwule Joseph Mary
The Germany–Uganda Coffee Origin Familiarisation Tour has continued to showcase Uganda’s growing reputation as a producer of premium-quality coffee, with delegates visiting Kapchorwa District in eastern Uganda to explore sustainable coffee farming practices on the slopes of Mount Elgon.
According to Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the tour made a stop at Sera Wild Farm, a 50-acre model farm owned by renowned organic farmer Mr. Bruno Katusiime, who has earned recognition for promoting environmentally friendly agricultural practices in the region.
The delegation, composed of coffee roasters, investors, and coffee quality assurance professionals from Germany and Uganda, was taken through Uganda’s sustainable coffee production systems and given firsthand experience of the opportunities and challenges facing smallholder farmers engaged in organic agriculture.
During the visit, participants observed an innovative irrigation system established across the farm to support coffee production despite changing weather patterns. They also toured an integrated beekeeping project consisting of nearly 1,000 beehives that play a critical role in pollination and improving coffee productivity.
Mr. Bruno Katusiime explained that Uganda’s fertile volcanic soils around Mount Elgon, coupled with favourable climatic conditions, provide a strong foundation for the production of high-quality coffee capable of competing on the international market.
However, he also pointed out a number of challenges affecting the coffee sector, including difficult terrain in mountainous areas, high production costs, limited processing infrastructure, and stiff competition in global coffee markets.
The familiarisation tour forms part of broader efforts to strengthen cooperation between Uganda and Germany in the coffee value chain by connecting international buyers and investors directly with coffee producers and processors across the country.
Uganda remains one of Africa’s leading coffee exporters, with organic and specialty coffee increasingly attracting attention from global markets due to its unique taste profiles and sustainable production methods.