FAMReports News Desk | May 2025
Uganda has entered a new and ambitious phase of its national coffee farmer registration campaign, aiming to meet strict European Union EU environmental regulations that take effect in 2026. The country now targets registering 2.8 million coffee farmers, more than triple its initial figure, in a bold step to comply with the European Union Deforestation Free Products Regulation EUDR.
As of May 2025, 1.25 million farmers are already enrolled in the national coffee registry following the launch of a second registration phase in April. This new phase alone has added 350,000 more farmers to the system.
The EUDR, set to be enforced on January 1 2026, requires that coffee, cocoa, and other agricultural commodities exported to EU member states must not originate from land that has undergone deforestation. Uganda has until December 30 2025 to ensure compliance, a deadline that has now become the driving force behind national coffee traceability efforts.
Milestone in Traceability Demonstrated in Kalungu
In a landmark event held at the Lusango Coffee Farmers Cooperative Society in Kalungu District, Uganda held its first public demonstration of a digital coffee traceability system. The system was designed specifically to meet the traceability and sustainability criteria set by the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
“This is a milestone,” said Mr Rauben Keimusya, Assistant Commissioner for Coffee Production at the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries MAAIF. “We can now trace a registered farmer in Kalungu or elsewhere, determine exactly where they grow their coffee, the quantity harvested, and its quality.”
During the Kalungu event, stakeholders including farmers, exporters, government officials, and development partners witnessed firsthand how the digital traceability tool works. It links every step in the coffee value chain from production to export, offering transparency and verification at every level.
Doubling Down on Registration
Initially, the government aimed to register 900,000 farmers, a target it has now met. Encouraged by the progress and under pressure to meet EUDR standards, authorities launched a new registration phase in April 2025 targeting another 900,000. The Ministry now aims to reach 1.8 million registered farmers by the end of June 2025, with a final target of 2.8 million.
Mr Keimusya stressed the urgency of the registration campaign and underscored its significance to the national economy.
“Europe is one of our largest coffee export markets. Ignoring their standards would hurt our economy and the livelihoods of our farmers,” he said.
He was quick to clarify that while registration is not compulsory, it is highly recommended. “Buyers may soon prefer registered farmers who comply with traceability requirements,” he noted, warning that unregistered farmers might find it increasingly difficult to sell their coffee as global buyers demand compliance with traceability and environmental standards.
Assurance on Non Taxation
Addressing common farmer concerns, Mr Keimusya reiterated that the digital registration system is not a new form of taxation. “The system is not intended for revenue collection. It is a tool required by the EU to trace coffee origins and ensure compliance with its environmental regulations,” he assured.
This reassurance was echoed by representatives from Café Africa, the coordination body helping Uganda enforce EUDR compliance in the coffee sector.
Exporters Already On Board
Ms Judith Muvara, Advocacy and Communications Officer at Café Africa, revealed that some of Uganda’s major coffee exporters such as Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd have already adopted the digital traceability tools and are seeing tangible benefits.
“These tools have proven effective across the supply chain. We urge unregistered farmers to come on board so we can collectively move the sector forward,” she said.
Ms Muvara emphasized that a collective sector wide effort is crucial if Uganda is to meet the EUDR compliance deadline. “We cannot afford to leave anyone behind, especially smallholder farmers who make up the bulk of Uganda’s coffee sector,” she added.
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With just months to go before the EUDR deadline, Uganda is racing against time to ensure that its coffee industry remains competitive on the global market. The country exports over 5 million 60 kilogram bags of coffee annually, making it one of the continent’s top exporters and a vital foreign exchange earner.
The digital registration and traceability drive is now viewed not only as a compliance requirement but as a transformative step toward modernizing Uganda’s coffee sector and enhancing its global standing.
For many farmers, the message is clear: get registered, get traceable, or risk being left behind. As the clock ticks toward December 30 2025, the push to bring every coffee farmer on board continues to gather momentum.
