Bugimotwa (CM Natural) - Uganda

Grown on the slopes of Mt Elgon in eastern Uganda, this coffee is part of a project working to improve livelihoods for coffee-growing families by elevating quality and opening access to specialty export markets.

The initiative brought together researchers, farmers and industry partners to develop a more transparent, higher-value coffee supply chain. 

Located in Kapchorwa, meaning “Home of Friends” in the local dialect, the Mt Elgon region has a long history of Arabica cultivation. Its two rainy seasons and marked differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures create favourable conditions for slow cherry development. Despite this potential, Ugandan coffee has historically had limited access to specialty markets, with barriers including financing, infrastructure and fragmented post-harvest supply chains.

Intersection Traders set out to address these challenges, working with researchers from universities in Australia, Uganda and the Netherlands to establish a program that rewards quality and delivers greater returns to the people who grow and harvest the coffee. The initiative places particular emphasis on creating opportunities for women and young people.

In 2019, the team partnered with the local growers’ society to establish the community-owned Bugimotwa washing station. The station gives local producers access to the infrastructure and processing capacity needed to improve quality and increase production, alongside training in agronomy.

Quality assessment begins within eight hours of picking. The cherries are then floated and rested whole in sealed drums for 36–42 hours before being transferred to raised beds.

Drying is slow and carefully managed, with the cherries regularly turned over four to six weeks until they reach 10.5% moisture. The coffee is then stored in GrainPro bags before dry milling and export preparation.

This coffee represents what can happen when producers are given the tools, knowledge and market access to realise the potential of their crop. Through collaboration between farmers, researchers and specialty coffee professionals, the project is helping build a more transparent and rewarding supply chain in Uganda.

• Region: Kabeywa, Mt Elgon
• Country: Uganda
• Elevation: 1,700 - 2,100 masl
• Variety: SL-14, SL-28, Nyasaland
• Processing: CM Natural