IWCA women farmers put up strong presence at Uganda coffee and cocoa expo, lobby Govt for funding support 

By Darlington Mabonga 

Women coffee farmers grouped under the international Women in coffee Alliance [IWCA] Uganda chapter which brings together hundreds of small,medium and large scale women farmers have appealed for government funding support to enable them improve on their incomes through coffee earnings.

The members currently participating in the ongoing three day Uganda coffee and cocoa expo 2026 at Serena Hotel told this website 14th August 2026 that they are encountering numerous both onfarm and at Market linkages challenges which require technical support from government.

Buhura Shakirah 44 the founding managing director of Mugamba coffee Farm Ltd based at Mugamba village Nyantaboma parish Harugongo sub county in Kabarole district complained about the slow pace of flow of coffee business.

She said their 400 acre family coffee farm is facing technical challenges including high cost of doing business. "We are appealing for government intervention in terms of support of irrigation systems, to curb the draught which resulted in the drying of coffee trees"

The other challenges include lack of centralised produce storage facilities, lack of technical onfarm extension services and limited access to reliable Market linkages.

The story is not different from that of Monica Nantume the founding director of Mona coffee farm Ltd located at Buzibwera Village, Wabusana parish Kikyusa sub county Luwero District.

Nantume said despite her farm sitting on 2 acres, she faces several technical challenges including limited access to quality coffee seedlings, pesticides, low consumption of coffee by the ordinary citizens and unreliable Market Access among others. 

She wants the government to empower her with provision of technical and logistical support to enable her remain competitive in the future coffee Market.

Martha Wandera the founder and managing director Kimco coffee farm Ltd was not different from her colleagues under the IWCA Uganda chapter 

The chairperson of the Uganda coffee and cocoa expo and conference organising committee Kemirembe Jackie commended the women under the IWCA for turning up in large numbers saying the development was an indication that the women are increasingly responding to the government call to take part in the agricultural sector.

Kemirembe observed that the statistics of the expo and conference Indicate that women were the majority participants who actively participated largely in the expo exhibiting high quality coffee and cocoa products.

She congratulated them and said that more female experts in the field of technology geo data entrepreneurship and agri business and agricultural insurance among others professional skills participated in penal discussions and stand alone presentations which enriched the conference which brought together over 100 delegates across the global coffee and cocoa industry.