Robusta coffee prices hit 17-month low in Ibanda

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Robusta coffee prices have hit a 17-month low in Ibanda district, but farmers remain optimistic they will recover next season.

Traders quoted the beans (clean) at between shillings 9,500 compared to shillings 10,000 registered during the first week of February, 2024. This also indicates a month-on-month reduction from about shillings 12,000 on June 2 this year, and from 15,000 in March.

Traders in Ibanda town and Ishongororo trading centre in Ibanda North constituency quoted robusta coffee beans (clean) at sh9,500 per kilogramme.

Medard Tukamuhabwa, a farmer and sector expert in Ishongororo town council, Ibanda North County, attributed the drop partly to poor quality, explaining that some farmers and traders sell beans with high moisture content. The recommended moisture content should be at least 13%, he said, adding that many farmers needed to improve post-harvest handling.

“Besides, increased supplies on the global market that have hit prices, Uganda’s coffee also faces the challenge of low quality. Many farmers don’t handle the coffee properly or dry it to the recommended moisture content,” Tukamuhabwa said.

Farmers, like Januarius Turyamureba, of Kashangura in Kagongo Division, blame unscrupulous traders who they accuse of adding foreign materials, including husks, to the coffee to make a quick buck.

Despite the challenges, Tukamuhabwa and Patience Katungye of Bisheshe Coffee Producers Association (Bicopa) were optimistic that prices would recover and stabilise at about sh12,000 next season (in two months), adding that quality would be a big factor.

Patience Katungye of Bisheshe Coffee Producers Association (Bicopa) is optimistic that prices will recover and stabilise at about sh12,000 next season. (Photo by Stephen Nuwagira)

The robusta coffee season ended in May in Ibanda, with most of what is coming onto the market from farmers’ stocks. The district grows mainly robusta coffee, and the crop is being promoted as one of the enterprises to help improve household income of residents.

Meanwhile, Arabica coffee goes for shillings 15,000 per kilo in Ibanda town, a drop from shillings 17,000 at the beginning of last month and highs of shillings 18,500 mid-February. It goes for shillings 14,000 in Kashangura in Kagongo Division, as well as in Ishongororo and in Bisheshe trading centre, Bisheshe Division.

Ministry explains

Last week, the agriculture ministry attributed the drop in prices to various factors, including better prospects for the Brazil crop, a rise in global robusta coffee production, and speculation, among others.

Exports

In May 2025, Uganda delivered a record 47,606.7 tonnes, surpassing Ethiopia as Africa’s leading coffee exporter, according to the ministry. The country sold 793,445 60-kg bags during the month, an increase from 552,569 bags in May 2024. This was a 43.59% rise compared to the same period last year. The May coffee exports raked in over $243.94 million while the cumulative annual export value was at over $2 billion.

Indicative prices

Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries daily market report for July 2 quoted Kiboko at shillings 5,000-5,500 a kilo, fair average quality (FAQ) was between shillings 10,500-11,000, Arabica parchment ranged from shillings 13,500-14,500, and Drugar coffee (clean) goes for 13,500-14,500.