The Bugisu Cooperative Union (BCU) has announced that Arabica coffee prices have risen to Shs17,000 per kilogram this season, up from Shs12,000 in 2024, providing a much-needed boost to farmers across the Bugisu subregion.
BCU Vice Chairperson John Musila revealed the development during a ceremony handing over bursary cheques to over 200 students, all children of coffee farmers, under the union’s education support scheme.
“Farmers are delivering at 17,000 per kilo of parchment. When we sell and deduct expenses and taxes, they get a bonus of 5,000,” Musila said, attributing the increase to quality production and collective marketing through the cooperative structure.
He encouraged farmers to maintain high standards in harvesting and processing to sustain competitive prices, adding that BCU remains committed to advocating for fair trade and better returns for its members.
BCU Manager Barbra Wasagali added that the union is purchasing green beans at Shs31,000 per kilo.
She noted that while the union operates as a price setter, farmers still face challenges from middlemen who often exploit them.
“Middlemen sometimes buy directly from the shamba, preventing farmers from delivering coffee to the union,” she explained.
The rise in coffee prices comes as a relief to farmers who have struggled with fluctuating rates in recent years, offering renewed hope for improved household incomes across the Elgon coffee belt.