Buganda

Buganda, located in central and south-central Uganda around the northern shores of Lake Victoria, is one of the country’s most important and historically significant coffee-producing regions, particularly for Robusta coffee. The region covers districts such as Mukono, Kayunga, Luwero, Wakiso, Mpigi, Masaka, and parts of Kalangala, and lies at altitudes of about 1,100–1,300 meters above sea level. Buganda’s equatorial climate, with warm temperatures, high humidity, and annual rainfall of 1,200–1,800 mm, provides ideal conditions for robust and reliable Robusta coffee cultivation.

Coffee farming in Buganda is dominated by smallholder producers, typically managing plots of less than two hectares. Coffee is often grown within banana–coffee agroforestry systems, locally known as kibanja farming, where coffee trees are intercropped with matooke (bananas), shade trees, and food crops such as beans and cassava. This system helps conserve soil moisture, reduce erosion, and provide household food security, while also improving resilience to climate stress. The majority of coffee grown in Buganda is Robusta, including traditional Nganda and newer improved clonal varieties developed for higher yields and disease resistance.

The main harvest seasons in Buganda occur twice a year, reflecting Uganda’s bimodal rainfall pattern. The primary harvest runs from October to January, while a secondary harvest takes place from April to June. Coffee cherries are mostly hand-picked, and post-harvest processing traditionally involves wet processing (washed coffee) at the farm or village level, followed by sun-drying. In recent years, improved pulping equipment, farmer cooperatives, and private processors have enhanced quality control and market access in the region.

Buganda plays a central role in Uganda’s coffee economy, contributing a significant share of national Robusta output. Coffee provides a critical source of cash income for rural households and supports employment in trading, transport, and processing. The region also benefits from relatively good infrastructure and proximity to Kampala, which facilitates access to markets, extension services, and exporters. However, farmers face challenges including coffee wilt disease (CWD), fluctuating prices, land fragmentation due to population pressure, and increasing climate variability.

Despite these challenges, Buganda remains the heartland of Ugandan Robusta coffee, combining favorable ecology, long farming tradition, and strong market integration. Ongoing efforts to promote replanting with improved varieties, better agronomic practices, and sustainable agroforestry systems continue to strengthen coffee productivity and livelihoods across the region, ensuring Buganda’s enduring importance in Uganda’s coffee sector.