Uganda’s specialty coffee industry has reached a new milestone after a Natural Geisha lot from Rwenzori Estate Farm sold for a record $350.02, about Shs1.28 million, per kilogram.
The premium coffee attracted the highest price during an international auction held from July 6 to 8.
Mountain Harvest organised the auction in partnership with specialty coffee commerce platform M-Cultivo. The event attracted more than 1,000 bids from buyers across the world.
Although the exceptional price applied to a rare premium lot, industry players said the sale demonstrated the potential value of coffee with recognised quality, origin and traceability.
The auction recorded a weighted average price of $24.32, about Shs90,000, per kilogram across the participating lots. That average was significantly higher than prices commonly associated with conventional coffee markets.
Mountain Harvest’s Kenneth Barigye said the result showed that Uganda could reduce its reliance on prices determined through international commodity markets.
“For decades, the coffee industry has largely asked producers to fit within a price determined elsewhere. This auction points to a different future, where value is created and recognised at origin,” Barigye said.
The auction placed greater emphasis on coffee quality, processing methods and traceability. These factors often influence prices in the international specialty coffee market.
Joseph Mugibi, a coffee farmer from Sironko district in the Bugisu sub-region, said rewarding quality could encourage farmers to invest more in production.
“We have always known that our coffee has a special character. The challenge has been finding buyers who recognise the effort that goes into producing high-quality beans. When quality is rewarded, farmers are encouraged to invest more in their farms,” Mugibi said.
Rwenzori coffee attracts international attention
Uganda ranks among Africa’s leading coffee exporters and is a major producer of Robusta coffee.
However, specialty coffee represents a smaller section of the country’s coffee industry, leaving room for producers to expand into premium international markets.
The auction result has placed fresh attention on Uganda’s Arabica-growing regions. These include the Rwenzori Mountains, Mount Elgon and parts of western Uganda.
The altitude and climatic conditions in these areas support the production of coffees suited to specialty markets.
David Paparelli of M-Cultivo said auctions could improve international perceptions of coffee produced in countries such as Uganda.
“We are proud to be part of this historic moment for Ugandan coffee. Auctions have the ability to change the market’s perspective of the potential and value of coffee from origins like Uganda,” Paparelli said.
Mountain Harvest builds on 2025 competition success
The auction followed Mountain Harvest’s first-place performance at the 2025 African Taste of Harvest competition.
The company’s earlier success generated greater international interest in its coffee. Mountain Harvest secured first and third positions during the regional competition held in Tanzania.
The latest auction also comes as Uganda seeks to raise coffee production, export volumes and earnings through improved productivity, market diversification and value addition.
Uganda earned $2.3 billion from coffee exports during the 12 months ending May 2026, according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Coffee Department. Export volumes reached 8.6 million 60-kilogram bags during the period.
The record price does not mean ordinary Ugandan coffee will immediately sell at similar rates.
Instead, the result provides an example of what highly rated, traceable and carefully processed coffee can achieve in specialised markets.
The challenge for Uganda’s coffee sector is to turn the auction milestone into wider and more sustainable opportunities for farmers.
That will require consistent quality, improved processing, reliable traceability and stronger connections between producers and international specialty buyers.
