KAYUNGA — The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has intensified the registration of coffee traders in Kayunga District as part of efforts to streamline the coffee value chain, improve quality standards and enhance market access for farmers and traders.
The exercise, which is being conducted across the district, seeks to ensure that all coffee traders are formally registered and operate within required legal and quality frameworks, while strengthening traceability and compliance with international coffee market requirements.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting at Katikoomu in Kayunga, George William Ssajjabbi, Vice Chairperson of the Kayunga Coffee Traders and Farmers Association, welcomed the initiative, saying it would bring order to the sector and improve trust between farmers and traders.
“We welcome the government’s effort to register coffee traders because it will promote accountability, improve market confidence, and help genuine traders conduct business in a more organized environment. Farmers will also benefit from better market linkages and fair trade practices,” Ssajjabbi said.
Alongside the registration exercise, farmers and traders were sensitised on coffee quality standards and post-harvest handling practices by the Uganda Quality Coffee Traders and Processors Association.
According to David Sekitoleko, a field officer with the association, maintaining quality standards remains critical for Uganda’s competitiveness in the global coffee market.
“Farmers need to harvest mature coffee cherries, dry them properly, and avoid contamination during storage and transportation. Quality begins at the farm level, and every actor in the value chain has a role to play,” Sekitoleko said.
The engagement also introduced stakeholders to a newly developed coffee digital application designed to support the sector through real-time access to information on coffee prices, market trends, quality requirements and extension services.
Officials said the platform is expected to improve decision-making among farmers, enhance productivity and strengthen transparency within the coffee value chain.
MAAIF officials urged farmers and traders to embrace digital solutions, noting that technology is increasingly central to improving efficiency, traceability and profitability in modern agriculture.
The ongoing registration exercise and digital sensitisation campaign are expected to strengthen Uganda’s coffee industry while positioning farmers and traders to tap into emerging opportunities in both local and international markets.