Uganda’s Coffee Ambitions Find a New Home in Turkey

As Turkey’s taste for specialty coffee accelerates, Uganda is positioning itself as a leading supplier through direct-trade partnerships.

BY DANIEL MURAGA
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Featured photo: H.E. Nusura Tiperu, Uganda’s Ambassador to Turkey, during a coffee market activation event in Ankara, courtesy of Uganda Embassy

What to know:

• Turkey’s coffee imports surged from $232 million in 2021 to $909 million in 2025, prompting Uganda to expand exports beyond Europe and position itself as one of Turkey’s major suppliers of specialty coffee
• In May 2026, Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture signed a strategic agreement with Kafe Kavil, a leading Turkish specialty coffee company, to strengthen distribution, increase Ugandan coffee sales in Turkey, and create opportunities across the coffee value chain
• Ugandan coffee exports to Turkey grew from about 2,300 bags in 2024 to over 15,000 bags in 2025. Backed by growing demand for specialty coffee, Uganda is expanding production from 9.3 million bags annually toward a goal of 20 million bags by 2030, while leveraging direct-trade relationships to gain greater market access and visibility

Uganda is gearing up efforts to export more coffee to Turkey as it lays more foundation to expand its export market beyond its already established export markets in Europe. Turkey has positioned itself as one of the leading coffee import markets growing in recent years.

According to statistics from Trade Map, Turkey’s coffee imports rose from $232 million in 2021 to $909 million in 2025—an impressive trend that Uganda has taken notice of. To that end, the country is eyeing Turkey’s fast-expanding branded coffee café market by establishing strategic distribution and supply partnerships.

To make this happen, Uganda is shifting toward washed robusta and single-origin arabica, leveraging bilateral trade, and positioning itself as a principal supplier of specialty coffee to Turkish coffee lovers. Further paving the way to the Turkish coffee market, the Ugandan Ministry of Agriculture, in May 2026, signed and formalized a strategic partnership with Kafe Kavil, a leading specialty coffee retailer, supplier, and distributor in Turkey and active in the local market.

The trade agreement, which was made at the Ugandan Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, is designed to increase sales of Ugandan coffee in Turkey and generate new business opportunities throughout the coffee value chain.

Expanding the Ugandan coffee market through bilateral partnerships

Aacha Mary Orikiriza, Undersecretary representing Uganda’s State Minister for Agriculture, described the agreement as a crucial step in expanding Ugandan coffee market access. “Uganda is strengthening its presence in emerging coffee markets through partnerships that create direct engagement between producers, buyers, and consumers,” Aacha said during an event that brought together coffee exporters, importers, diplomats, investors, roasters, and other coffee professionals. 

For Uganda, expanding its market base in Ankara is part of a wider effort to broaden its export reach and increase foreign exchange incomes. Uganda’s coffee export revenues doubled to $2.2 billion during the 2024/2025 fiscal year, and the industry is on pace to post another record in the current 2025/2026 season.

Current coffee production in Uganda is impressive, producing 9.3 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee per year with a target of over 20 million bags by 2030, to be realized through its National Coffee Planting Program. It’s no wonder the country overtook Ethiopia as the continent’s largest coffee producer just about a year ago. 

Turkey becomes an important destination for Ugandan specialty coffee

Turkey is quickly becoming a crucial non-traditional export destination for Ugandan specialty coffee. According to recent statistics, coffee imports from Uganda increased from approximately 2,300 bags in 2024 to about 15,000 bags in 2025, driven by consumers’ desire for single-origin and specialty coffees.

Observing this trend, Gordon Katwirenabo, the Ugandan Assistant Commissioner for Quality Assurance and Value Addition, credits the country’s ability to supply both robusta and arabica coffee throughout the years as the reason international buyers continue to desire the commodity.  “Uganda (coffee) offers diverse flavor profiles supported by strong quality assurance systems,” says Gordon, adding that the country’s arabica from Mount Elgon and Rwenzori is famous for its vibrant and full-bodied cup profiles, while the high altitude robusta is progressively drawing specialty coffee interest.

Paradigm shift to direct-trade partnerships

The Uganda-Turkey-Kafe Kavil trade partnership is a good example of how global coffee demand is favoring direct-trade relationships over traditional bureaucratic arrangements. With such partnerships, coffee can be shipped easily and more quickly to the benefit of all players in the value chain, especially those at origin. The current obsession with specialty coffee, sustainability, and direct trade relationships positions producing countries at an advantage for increased visibility and growth across multiple international markets. This is especially true with this ground-breaking deal between Uganda and Turkey. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Daniel Muraga (he/him) is a communications expert, researcher, writer, and editor based in Kenya with over 10 years of experience in the industry. His mission is to highlight Africa’s contributions to the realms of science, technology, innovation, culture, food, and related fields. He has done extensive research and written widely in the coffee niche for Sprudge Media, as well as in related areas for Life & Thyme and CQ Researcher, among others. When not writing, he is always outdoors communing with nature. You can find him on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

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