Uganda Coffee and Cocoa Expo 2026 in Kampala: outcomes and takeaways for international buyers
By Sandra Nansbuga
Uganda Coffee and Cocoa Expo 2026 in Kampala: what it signals for buyers
Uganda staged the inaugural Uganda Coffee and Cocoa Expo in Kampala from August 13 to 15, 2026, a three-day conference and exhibition that put the country's coffee, cocoa and tourism sectors on a single stage for the first time. For international buyers the event did not by itself generate a burst of new contracts, but it carried a clearer message: Uganda wants its coffee bought, marketed and valued on its own terms, with green bean supply sitting at the centre of that strategy.
What happened
The expo ran under the banner "Empowering Uganda's Coffee and Cocoa Industry: Innovation, Sustainability, and Global Reach" at the Kampala Serena Hotel, according to the Uganda Coffee and Cocoa Expo official site. Minister of State for Trade David Bahati officiated the opening on Thursday, August 13, 2026, and called on stakeholders to uphold global market standards, Ugnewsline reported.
The event brought together farmers, processors, exporters, agro-processors, manufacturers, technical service providers, legislators, academics and visiting delegates from the global coffee industry, Ugnewsline reported. The programme combined keynote addresses, B2B matchmaking, guided farm tours and an Innovation Spotlight for exhibitors, alongside Agro-Tourism and Fam Trip sponsorships tied to a "Bean to Beauty" positioning, according to Africa Agricultural Network.
The context behind the expo is a trade reality. Africa Agricultural Network, citing Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, reports Uganda exported 8.6 million 60 kilogram bags of coffee between June 2025 and May 2026, a 16 percent jump in volume that pushed export earnings to roughly US$2.3 billion. Most of that volume still leaves the country raw or lightly processed, and the expo was explicitly aimed at closing the value addition gap rather than simply raising shipments. The sector faces near term risk too: Private Sector Foundation Uganda chief executive Stephen Asiimwe told the expo that prolonged dry conditions between May and July dried up thousands of coffee trees and caused significant income losses for farmers, Ugnewsline reported.
Uganda also used the surrounding season to push origin marketing. Delegates pitched coffee tourism at the World of Coffee Expo in San Diego, and Uganda has been named host of the African Fine Coffees Association Conference and Expo 2027, according to Africa Agricultural Network. Tourism integration pilots are planned for the coffee and cocoa growing regions in 2027, and organisers said they intend to make the expo an annual event.
What this means for buyers
For green coffee buyers the most useful signals are the near term supply risk and the longer term strategy shift.
First, the dry spell. The May to July dry conditions flagged at the expo are a direct warning sign for anyone contracting Ugandan coffee for the coming harvest. Farmers reported income losses and tree damage, which can translate into tighter availability, softer quality and upward price pressure on origin contracts. Buyers with fixed volume coverage should confirm shipment timing and quality expectations for the affected regions rather than assume normal flow.
Second, the value addition push. If the government and exporter community shift effort toward processing, roasting and origin branding, that does not remove green coffee from the market, but it does change the negotiating picture. More beans may be anchored for domestic value addition, tightening supply of raw exports and sharpening price competition for buyers seeking green lots. The B2B matchmaking and direct exporter access the expo advertised are worth using, because direct relationships with origin suppliers reduce the risk of being priced out when domestic demand competes for volume.
Third, standards and compliance. The minister's explicit call to uphold global market standards is a reminder that Ugandan suppliers are competing for buyers who screen for quality, sustainability and traceability. Working with exporters who document origin, meet specification and back claims with the transparency the expo promoted protects the buyer on both quality and compliance.
The expo itself is a sourcing calendar marker. If it becomes annual as organisers intend, mid-August in Kampala becomes a concentrated window for meeting suppliers, tasting the current crop and locking in relationships ahead of the next harvest.
FAQ
Question: When and where was the inaugural Uganda Coffee and Cocoa Expo held?
Answer: It ran from August 13 to 15, 2026, at the Kampala Serena Hotel in Kampala, according to Africa Agricultural Network, Ugnewsline and the Uganda Coffee and Cocoa Expo official site.
Question: Was the 2026 edition confirmed as the inaugural event?
Answer: Yes. Both Africa Agricultural Network and Ugnewsline describe it as the inaugural Uganda Coffee and Cocoa Expo held in August 2026, and organisers said they intend to make it an annual event.
Question: What does the expo signal for green coffee sourcing?
Answer: It signals a strategy shift toward value addition and origin branding, plus a near term supply risk from the May to July dry spell farmers reported, both of which buyers should factor into contracting and pricing of Ugandan green coffee.
Sources: Uganda Coffee and Cocoa Expo | Ugnewsline | Africa Agricultural Network