Coffee is Uganda's leading export and a source of national pride, so it's no surprise the country hosts a rich calendar of coffee and agribusiness events. From cupping competitions to export forums to farmer field days, these gatherings connect everyone from smallholder growers to international buyers. Here's what they involve and why they matter.
What coffee events in Uganda are about
Coffee events span the entire value chain — production, processing, quality, trade and export. Some focus on quality and craft (cuppings, barista competitions, tastings), others on trade and business (export forums, buyer-seller meetings, sustainability and compliance briefings), and others on farmers (field days, cooperative gatherings, training on good agricultural practices). With new export rules like the EU Deforestation Regulation reshaping the market, many events now focus heavily on traceability and compliance.
What people do at these events
- Taste and evaluate — cuppings and competitions where Ugandan coffees are scored and celebrated.
- Connect buyers and sellers — exporters, roasters and importers meet producers and cooperatives.
- Learn the market — sessions on pricing, certification, traceability, and accessing premium and specialty markets.
- Build the supply chain — sourcing relationships, financing arrangements and processing partnerships form here.
- Celebrate — coffee events are also about community and the culture around Ugandan coffee.
Who attends
Smallholder farmers and cooperatives, coffee exporters and processors, specialty roasters and buyers (local and international), agri-financiers, certification bodies, and development programmes supporting the coffee sector. For agribusinesses sourcing or financing coffee, these events are where the season's relationships are set.
How to get the most from a coffee event
Know your role in the chain and who you most need to meet — a producer chasing buyers has a different game plan than a financier scouting portfolios. Understand the current compliance landscape (traceability and EUDR are dominating conversations), and bring proof of your quality or capacity. As always in Ugandan agribusiness, the trust built in person carries through the whole season.
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An evening networking reception at Kololo Courts Hotel rooftop, Kampala (6–8 PM), bringing together leaders across these sectors. RSVP to attend.
See the launch & RSVP →Kennedy Nyabwala is the founder of Basket Advisory Technologies, with extensive cross-sector experience spanning e-commerce, agribusiness, supply chain, logistics, and fintech across Uganda and East Africa. Based in Kampala, Uganda.