During the first half of September 2026, Robusta Kiboko prices had fallen to Shs5,000–6,000 per kilogramme, while Robusta FAQ stood at Shs11,500–12,000.
Uganda’s coffee farmers are facing declining prices amid increased global supplies and the effects of prolonged drought in some coffee-growing areas, Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze has said.
In a statement issued on September 20, 2026, Tumwebaze said the recent fluctuations in coffee and cocoa prices were part of wider adjustments in international commodity markets and should not be interpreted as a disappearance of demand for the two crops.
He said coffee prices had come under pressure following increased availability from major producing countries, particularly Brazil and Vietnam, while cocoa prices had also declined amid expectations of increased supplies and higher inventories.
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According to the minister, Arabica coffee had fallen to about $3.03 per pound by September 3, while Robusta stood at about $3,426 per tonne. He said the pressure was partly linked to increased Brazilian exports as the country’s harvest approached completion.
Tumwebaze said the recent decline in coffee prices was also being felt in Uganda, although the impact varied according to coffee type and quality.
In September 2025, average farm-gate prices for Robusta Kiboko stood at Shs6,000–7,000 per kilogramme, while Robusta FAQ fetched Shs13,500–14,000. Arabica parchment was trading at Shs14,000–15,000, while Drugar stood at Shs13,500–14,000.
During the first half of September 2026, Robusta Kiboko prices had fallen to Shs5,000–6,000 per kilogramme, while Robusta FAQ stood at Shs11,500–12,000. Arabica parchment, however, increased to about Shs15,500–16,000, while Drugar rose to Shs14,000–14,500.
The minister said the Robusta FAQ price, considered a more appropriate benchmark for commercial-quality coffee, had declined by about Shs2,000 per kilogramme, representing a 14.5% drop.
However, he said the situation for Arabica was different, with parchment coffee rising from about Shs14,500 per kilogramme in 2025 to Shs15,750 in 2026, an increase of about 8.5%.
Tumwebaze also attributed part of the pressure on Uganda’s coffee sector to prolonged drought and unusually high temperatures in several growing areas, including Greater Masaka, Kyotera, Sembabule and Luwero.
He said the weather conditions had affected flowering, cherry development, bean filling and coffee quality, with affected areas recording an estimated 10% reduction in processing out-turn compared with the normal average.
The impact has also been reflected in Uganda’s coffee export figures.
Uganda exported 846,376 bags of 60 kilogrammes in July 2026, compared with 997,105 bags during the same month in 2025, representing a 15% decline in volume. Export earnings also fell from $250.7 million to $204.1 million, a reduction of about 18.6%.
Tumwebaze said traders were consequently becoming more cautious and selective when pricing different coffee qualities.
Farmers delivering well-dried, properly harvested and good-quality coffee, he said, could receive substantially better prices than those supplying immature, poorly dried or mixed coffee.
The minister cautioned farmers against interpreting the decline in prices as an automatic loss, saying profitability also depends on production costs, productivity per acre, quality, post-harvest handling and the form in which coffee is sold.
He said farmers who improve productivity and undertake basic value addition could remain profitable even when FAQ prices fall to Shs7,000 per kilogramme, although farmers affected by severe drought could suffer considerable financial losses.
Looking ahead, Tumwebaze said coffee and cocoa prices would continue to be influenced by global production, weather conditions and inventories.
He said Brazil’s coffee harvest and Vietnam’s Robusta exports would remain important factors in determining international Robusta prices, while weather disruptions or lower-than-expected production could tighten global supplies and push prices upward.
He added that coffee and cocoa remained highly sensitive to weather and that developments in Brazil, Vietnam, West Africa and other major producing regions would continue to influence international prices.
Despite the current volatility, Tumwebaze said the government expected some price recovery and greater stability over the next six months.
He said the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries would continue monitoring international and domestic coffee prices, providing market information to farmers and stakeholders, strengthening coffee production and productivity, and supporting recovery from drought and other climate shocks.
The minister urged farmers not to panic or harvest immature coffee, stressing the importance of maintaining quality.
He encouraged farmers to move from selling raw Kiboko to better processed and graded coffee in order to increase their returns, while urging traders to maintain transparent and quality-based pricing.
Tumwebaze said government was also supporting farmers with fertilisers and other productivity-enhancing inputs in key
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