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Introduction of coffee history, coffee producing areas and coffee varieties in Uganda, an African country

Published: 2026-04-26 Author:

Last Updated: 2026/04/26, Uganda is a country located in eastern Africa, straddling the equator, bordering Kenya to the east, Tanzania and Rwanda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and South Sudan to the north. Most of the country is located in the East African Plateau, many lakes, the average elevation of 1000-1200 meters, known as "plateau water village". Uganda is tropical steppe.

Uganda is a country located in eastern Africa, straddling the equator, bordering Kenya to the east, Tanzania and Rwanda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and South Sudan to the north. Most of the country is located in the East African Plateau, many lakes, the average elevation of 1000-1200 meters, known as "plateau water village".

Uganda has a tropical steppe climate, with an average annual temperature of 22.3 ℃ and annual rainfall of between 1 000 mm and 1500 mm in most areas. The rainy seasons are from March to May and from September to November each year, and the rest are two dry seasons. The natural conditions are good, the land is fertile and the climate is suitable, so coffee is one of the main cash crops in the country.

Uganda is one of the few countries in the world with native coffee trees, which grow in the wild Robusta around Lake Victoria. Arabica was introduced to Uganda from Malawi or Ethiopia in the 20th century, but it was not widely planted because of Arabica's weak disease resistance, while Robusta's coffee varieties with strong disease resistance began to be planted on a large scale.

Coffee exports accounted for only 1% of Uganda's export trade in 1925. In 1929, coffee industry committee (Coffee Industy Board), cooperative planting and production promoted the growth of coffee industry. In 1940, coffee became Uganda's main export trade product. But in 1990, due to drought, a collapse in coffee prices and farmers growing other crops, coffee production in Uganda fell by 20%. It was not until the 1990s that the coffee industry began to modernize.

The coffee producing areas in Uganda are roughly divided into three regions: Bugisu, West Nile (West Nile) and Renzori Mountain (Rwenzori Mountains), mostly from producers' unions or cooperatives. Wugar (washing Arabica) and Drugar (tanning Arabica) are unique to Uganda. Uganda is mainly divided into two production seasons.

Bugisu, a region of the Elgon Mountains in the east of the country near the Kenyan border, has high-quality soil, altitude and microclimate. At 1500-2300 meters above sea level, the main harvest season is from October to March of the following year, and the secondary season is from May to July. Arabica varieties such as kent, iron pickup, SL14 and SL28 are mainly planted.

West Nile (West Nile) West Nile region, located in northwestern Uganda, grows more Arabica varieties, Arabica near Lake Albert (Lake Albert) and Robusta to the north. At 1450-1800 meters above sea level, the main production season is from October to January of the following year, and the secondary season is from April to June. The planting varieties are Kent, Tieka, SL14, SL28 and the original species Robsta.

Mount Renzori (Rwenzori Mountains) is located in the Renzori Mountains in western Uganda, near the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) border. Drugar (sunning Arabica) is a common treatment in this area. 1200-2200 meters above sea level, April to July is the main production season, October to January of the following year is the secondary season. Mainly grow Kent, iron pickup, SL14, SL28 and native species Robusta.

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