Littlefarms and Coffee Minds Hub successfully delivered one of the most exciting and impactful coffee events in Uganda to date with the inaugural Uganda Direct Summit, hosted at the prestigious Next Media Park.
The summit brought together a diverse and influential audience of farmers, local and European roasters, exporters, and baristas, creating rich cross-sector conversations and networking opportunities. It was expertly moderated by Malcolm Musiime of NTV Business Now.
Organized in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and sponsored by Jesa and Zuricaf, the event served as a powerful platform for building direct trade relationships between international roasters and Ugandan coffee producers.
Jesa Partnership Highlights Growing Coffee Sophistication
The partnership with Jesa as the official milk partner added a meaningful layer to the summit. It spotlighted the critical role of high-quality milk in coffee adaptation and the complete beverage experience. Jesa has quietly become the milk of choice for Uganda’s national coffee champions and top baristas in competitions — a clear reflection of the increasing depth, sophistication, and maturity of Uganda’s specialty coffee scene.
Heart of the Summit: Live Cupping & Knowledge Sharing
The centerpiece of the event was a compelling live cupping experience that allowed Ugandan producers to see firsthand how their coffees are evaluated by international buyers and end consumers.
Standout moments included:
- An inspiring keynote address by Dr. Ian Clark, Chairman of the Commercial Coffee Producers Association of Uganda, drawing powerful insights from his extensive career in health, development, and commercial coffee.
- A high-level panel featuring Ignatius Kibaba, the foremost EUDR expert in the CD-MAAIF, addressing pressing questions on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), alongside Shakirah Buhura (Operations Director, Mugamba Farm, and two-time winner of the Best of the Pearl competition in the Arabica category); Chariton Namuwoza (CEO, National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda – NOGAMU); Mrs. Sarah Kagingo (Vice Chair on the BOA for PSFU and CEO, SoftPower Communications); and the Vice Chair of PSFU.
- Insightful sessions by Robert Kabushenga on The Path to Fine Robusta and Tonny Miiro on Roasting for International Markets.
All key panels and sessions were livestreamed, giving the wider coffee community access to the rich content.
Market Access & Future Plans
Littlefarms presented its flagship German Market Access Program, launched last year in Bamberg with support from the Ugandan Embassy in Berlin under the banner “Uganda Cup.” Key partners of the Uganda Cup in Germany include Messe Team Bamberg, Geruga, and the Berlin-based Zuricaf.
Producers can submit samples for professional profiling at Coffee Minds Hub until 24th May 2026. The top 30 samples will be further evaluated in Germany and featured in a 5-city coffee tasting roadshow, with visitors receiving a special Littlefarms Coffee Passport.
Note: The highly anticipated German roasters delegation was unfortunately unable to attend due to coordination challenges and heavy Kampala traffic, further highlighting the strong international interest in direct trade with Ugandan producers.
The Uganda Direct Summit will return in October 2026, and a new podcast series titled “Direct Conversation” is scheduled to launch in the coming weeks.
This highly successful inaugural summit has strengthened Uganda’s position as an emerging force in the global specialty coffee industry and demonstrated the power of collaboration across the entire value chain.
For sample submissions and more information, Contact: Coffee Minds Hub/Littlefarms Deadline: 24th May 2026