Africa-Press – Uganda. Ugandan coffee farmers are set to gain direct access to the European Union market through a new German-Ugandan exchange program aimed at strengthening trade and creating jobs in the coffee sector.
The Young Farmers’ Federation of Uganda (UNYFA), in partnership with the Schorlemer Foundation of the German Farmers’ Association, has launched an 18-month initiative that connects Ugandan and German youth to explore the coffee value chain from cultivation in Uganda to marketing in Germany.
The program, known as the Coffee Exchange (CoffeeXchange), was launched in June 2025 and will run until March 2026. It is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under the “Teams up! Youth Encounters for Sustainable Development” program and implemented by Engagement Global gGmbH.
“We believe this program will create sustainable coffee networks. Participants will develop tangible partnerships, especially for marketing Ugandan coffee directly in Germany and the EU. By March 2026, we expect them to have bankable business plans,” said Samuel Magezi, UNYFA Programs Manager.
The initiative combines virtual and physical engagements, with five Ugandans already active in the coffee value chain and five German university students involved in coffee research selected for the exchange. Earlier this month, the participants held their first physical session in Uganda, including visits to the National Coffee Research Institute in Mukono and the National Union of Coffee Agribusiness and Farm Enterprises (NUCAFE).
German participants also stayed on farms of their Ugandan peers for 16 days, learning about seed selection, primary processing, and other aspects of the value chain.
Julius Saazi, one of the Ugandan participants, said the program would help local farmers meet European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements, which mandate registration of coffee fields. “In the Greater Masaka region, farmers are now registering their coffee gardens. If they don’t, they’ll miss export opportunities,” he noted.
German participant Katharina Markert described the exchange as a valuable cultural and professional experience. “I had only studied the challenges smallholder farmers face in theory. Now, I’ve interacted directly with farmers and coffee industry players. Everyone here is so friendly and eager to share,” she said.
According to UNYFA, the program is expected to strengthen fair trade, improve farmer incomes, and position Ugandan coffee more competitively in the European market.
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