Uganda has been named the official Portrait Country for the 2026 World of Coffee Expo in Brussels and this is really a big moment for our coffee farmers and the whole sector. The Specialty Coffee Association chose Uganda to take centre stage at the big event that run from 25 to 27 June in Belgium. For a country that is already Africa top coffee exporter this recognition come at the perfect time.
In the last twelve months Uganda coffee export earnings hit around US$2.3 to 2.4 billion after shipping more than 8 million bags. That is serious money going into the pockets of millions of smallholder farmers across the country. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Uganda Embassy in the Benelux region are leading the campaign to show Europe what Ugandan coffee can do. They even launched the first national coffee brand called “Uganda Coffee: It’s in Our Nature” right at the expo.
I spoke to some traders in Kampala and they say this Portrait Country status will open more doors for specialty coffee buyers who usually prefer beans from other places. One exporter told me “Europe is the biggest coffee market in the world and now they will see our ten different flavour profiles from Mount Elgon to the Albertine Rift.” He was excited but also worried that quality must stay high or the good name will not last.
The government has been pushing hard for value addition instead of just selling green beans. At the Brussels stand they had cupping sessions every day and traditional music to attract people. Ambassador Mirjam Blaak Sow said the expo give Uganda a unique platform to talk direct to European buyers and investors. She hope more money will come into roasting and packaging factories here at home so farmers get better prices.
Not everything is perfect though. Many farmers still struggle with pests, expensive fertiliser and changing weather. Some people in the industry say the government need to do more on extension services and irrigation if we want to keep this momentum. Coffee prices have been good lately but they can drop any time. Still the selection as Portrait Country is a clear signal that the world is noticing Uganda progress.
Last year Uganda overtook Ethiopia in some export rankings and the numbers keep rising. Robusta from the central region and arabica from the highlands are both doing well. The new brand is meant to move us away from bulk sales into the higher paying specialty segment. Whether that succeed depend on how well farmers, exporters and government work together after the expo lights go off.
For ordinary Ugandans who grow coffee on small plots this news bring hope. Better market access means more money for school fees and better houses. The expo is already finished but the conversation it started is just beginning. Uganda coffee is no longer just a commodity, it is becoming a brand that people in Europe are starting to recognise. That is something worth celebrating even if the hard work is still ahead.