Bros Coffee Ltd wins inaugural Uganda coffee competition
Six Uganda Arabica coffee producers vied for the top position in a cupping competition jointly organised by the UCDA, the BHC Kampala and the UHC in London.
Kate Airey, Julius Moto & Hon. Bwino Fred Kyakulaga pose with Disan Kareng of Bros Coffee Limited, winners of the Uganda coffee competition.
Five judges from Uganda and five from the United Kingdom simultaneously judged the top six Arabica coffee samples at the UCDA laboratory in Lugogo and at We Roast in London, respectively. The top six samples came from Bros Coffee Ltd, Great Lakes Coffee Ltd, Masha Quality Holdings, Zombo Coffee, Kalaa Mugosi Women Empowerment Ltd and Funzo Coffee which Bros Coffee Limited being declared the winner at the end of the event. The competition attracted 50 samples from various Arabica coffee producers countrywide and aims to promote and raise interest in quality Ugandan coffee with the ultimate goal of increasing coffee exports to the United Kingdom which is in line with the national Coffee Roadmap that seeks to brand Uganda coffee, locally and internationally, and to increase structured demand.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Hon. Bwino Fred Kyakulaga has commended Uganda’s key trade partner, the United Kingdom, for the partnership and support extended to ensure that coffee, one of the country’s best products, gets into the UK market.
He said:
We are confident that as we continue to strengthen the trade relations between Uganda and the UK and as demand for quality Uganda coffee grows in the UK, farmers will be empowered, poverty levels will reduce with increasing farm incomes and smallholder farmers will transform into commercial farmers with comprehensive knowledge of the market.
Hon. Kyakulaga reiterated Government’s commitment to transform the coffee sub sector. He said:
It is Government’s desire to ensure that the great strides so far made in the coffee sub sector will lead to even greater accomplishments including meeting the target of producing 20 million 60kg bags of coffee by the year 2025 through interventions such as this Arabica Coffee Cupping competition.
The British High Commissioner to Uganda, H.E Kate Airey OBE said:
Our aim is very clear: we want to publicise the quality of Uganda specialty Arabica coffee and make British people more aware of the wonders of this Ugandan brand. Coffee in Uganda, particularly for the specialty market, is proving to be a force for good, both for the farmers and the planet. This story appeals to a UK market which is increasingly environmentally aware.
The winners of the competition will work with a company to develop their brand for the UK market. They will be supported with the right networks, contacts, branding and exposure to get them onto supermarket shelves in the UK. This is expected to open up the doors to other Ugandan brands to do the same.