Uganda

Uganda is an up and coming player in the African Arabica coffee domain. Previously better known for its Robusta production, in the vast low lying areas surrounding Lake Victoria, it has come to the fore with special Arabica coffees from the Bugisu area. The Bugisu AA is especially good, particularly the coffee coming from the Sipi Falls region on Mt Elgon (the mountain to the east of Uganda, bordering Kenya).

Much of the coffee is grown by smallholders, who are part of regional co-operatives. The co-operatives are responsible for educating the growers, in agronomic best practices, and especially in coffee picking selection, as the cherries ripen at different times on one stem. From there on in, cherries are delivered to local washing stations, before going on to mill and be graded for export.