Coffee Breakfast

What is the 'Coffee Breakfast'?

Posted on 22 June 2010

UCTF Coffee Breakfast Fellowship

One of the strategic objectives of Uganda Coffee Trade Federation [UCTF] is to protect, promote and safe guard members’ business interest. One way of achieving this objective is by providing opportunities for interaction and networking among members. In this regard, UCTF Organizes and coordinates Coffee Breakfast Meeting on topical matters for UCTF Member CEOs, Managers and other stakeholders.

Logistics are the backbone of the coffee export trade and as a land locked country, Uganda has got many challenges in this aspect that’s why the first UCTF coffee breakfast fellowship discussed issues concerning logistics. The Key speaker was Mr. William Mtengo the Resident representative of Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] in Uganda. He discussed the initiatives undertaken by KPA to ease the logistic problems at Mombasa Port which included among others their collaboration with Kenya Revenue Authority [KRA] to ease congestion and ensure that trade flows smoothly, 24hour port services, automation of the key port services and yard expansion.

The 2nd Coffee Breakfast Fellowship covered the Global Financial Crisis which characterized the late 2008 and early 2009. The key speaker was the CEO, Standard Chartered Bank – Uganda, Mr. Lamin Manjang who discussed the impact of the crisis on Uganda coffee industry and how the business community could cope with it.

Our advocacy function is always given foremost attention to ensure that industry interests are adequately protected in the legal and regulatory environment. With respect to this function, UCTF held its 3rd Coffee breakfast fellowship under the theme “Expanding the Uganda Coffee Grades: An essential step in expanding Uganda’s Coffee Future.” The purpose of this breakfast was to create awareness of the current competitive advantage other coffee exporting countries had over Uganda due to the restrictive coffee grades set in the Coffee Regulations of 1994 and urge Government to open up the coffee grading system to the forces of demand and supply. The Speakers were Mr. Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa the CEO, Africa Coffee Academy and Mr. Henry Ngabirano, the Managing Director, Uganda Coffee Development Authority [UCDA].

The 4th Coffee Breakfast dwelt on “Agricultural Financing”. The key speaker was Mr. Phillip Odera, the Managing Director, Stanbic Bank Uganda. He highlighted the importance of agriculture to the economy of Uganda hence the reason why Stanbic Bank was expanding its participation in agriculture sector by providing finance across the agricultural value chain, from production through handling, transportation, agro-processing, storage to marketing. The Managing Director emphasized that out of the $25 million, 60% would go into primary production benefiting commercial farmers (with 500 acres and above), medium scale farmers (with 100 to 500 acres) and small holders in groups. The remaining 40% would cater for secondary production i.e. agri-businesses within the value chain. The Uganda Coffee campaign targets 4.5 million bags of coffee exported by 2015 and Stanbic Bank pledged to play its role in making this dream a reality.

UCTF signed a memorandum of Association with the 4C Association which is an all inclusive, membership driven organization of coffee farmers, trade & industry and civil society. Members work jointly towards improving economic, social and environmental conditions in the coffee chain through the promotion of more sustainable and transparent practices for all who make a living in the coffee sector. UCTF held its 5th Coffee Breakfast with 4C association presenting it’s self to the Ugandan Coffee Community. CLICK ON OUR PARTNERS to know more about them.

The problem of global warming and climate has been on the Agenda of the G8 with no short term commitment to combat the climate change. Many coffee growing countries especially in South America and Asia have come out broadly on the effect of climate change on coffee production but there’s no concrete solution as yet. UCTF held its 6th Coffee Breakfast on Global warming and Climate and its effect on the coffee industry in Uganda. The key Speaker was Dr. Kimemia Joseph, Director of Research, and Coffee Research Foundation Kenya who shared his technical expertise on this subject. This came at the conclusion of the weeklong workshop on the development of Robusta Protocols. Participants were given an insight on this subject and the way forward through a presentation made by Mr. Ted Lingle the Executive Director, Coffee Quality Institute, USA.

The Federation will continue to mobilize the stakeholders in the industry and to promote co-operation with allied industries which render services to those in the coffee trade so that issues can be expeditiously handled to the benefit of all interested parties.

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