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By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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Across Uganda, a quiet revolution is brewing, and it smells like freshly roasted coffee. Our sisters in Uganda are stepping up and taking charge of the coffee business. This is a big deal, especially in an industry mostly run by men for so long. They are not just farming coffee; they are owning companies, leading communities, and changing the game for everyone. Indeed, this shift is about more than just business; it’s about empowerment, resilience, and building a legacy that uplifts the entire community, echoing the strength we see across the African Diaspora.
These Ugandan women are showing the world what happens when talent meets opportunity. They are creating paths where there were none, building enterprises that are 100% female-owned, like Kwezi Coffee (Kwezi Coffee Instagram Reel). Furthermore, initiatives such as Zukuka Bora Coffee Company are specifically designed to empower local female coffee producers through community development (JENGA Community Development and Zukuka Bora Coffee). Their journey is a powerful story of Black women taking control, a narrative of economic self-determination that resonates deeply with our shared history of overcoming adversity.
Ugandan Women: Leading the Coffee Charge
In Uganda, the coffee scene is getting a major shake-up, thanks to its women. These amazing entrepreneurs are not just participating; they are leading. For example, Kwezi Coffee, founded in 2021 by sisters Barbara Mugeni and Pamella Kampire, stands tall as a 100% female-owned Ugandan specialty coffee company (About – Kwezi Coffee). Their mission is bold: to source, process, roast, and export the finest Ugandan coffee beans while championing sustainability and boosting Uganda’s economy. Importantly, they are committed to uplifting women all along the coffee supply chain, empowering young women to meet high-quality standards and unlock economic doors (About – Kwezi Coffee).
Kwezi Coffee is not just about business; it’s about a legacy. The founders are inspired by the courageous women who pioneered Uganda’s coffee sector. Therefore, they dedicate their work to inclusivity and nation-building by empowering these young women (About – Kwezi Coffee). Similarly, companies like Zukuka Bora Coffee Company partner with organizations such as JENGA Community Development. Their main goal is to boost women’s roles and leadership in coffee, helping them improve production, learn business skills, and earn more money. These efforts are vital in a country where coffee is a key export, making women’s involvement crucial for both gender equality and the industry’s health.
Women’s Vital Role in Coffee Farming
Women make up an estimated 70% of the agricultural workforce in Sub-Saharan African coffee growing regions.
This highlights their crucial, though often undervalued, contribution to the coffee sector. Source: Africanews Report Summary
Ugandan Resilience: Coffee and Climate Change
Women coffee farmers in Uganda are on the front lines of a changing climate. They face unique challenges because of their gender and limited access to resources. For instance, many don’t own the land they farm, which makes it hard to make long-term changes like planting new types of coffee that can handle drought (Women, Coffee, and Climate Change). This situation mirrors struggles for land rights and resources seen in many Black communities globally. Additionally, they often have less access to farming advice, new technology, and money needed for climate-friendly farming methods.
Despite these hurdles, these women are not just victims; they are innovators. Forums and discussions are highlighting the smart ways women farmers are adapting to keep their coffee businesses alive (Women, Coffee, and Climate Change). Their resilience is remarkable. Moreover, with heavier household responsibilities, their ability to respond to climate shocks like unpredictable rain is often stretched thin. This fight against climate change is not just about coffee; it’s about securing livelihoods and building a sustainable future for their families and communities, a testament to their enduring spirit.
Key Challenges for Uganda’s Women Coffee Farmers
- Unequal access to land ownership and control.
- Limited access to credit and financial services.
- Lower pay for labor and less control over income.
- Barriers to leadership roles in cooperatives.
- Restricted ability to adapt due to lack of land rights.
- Less access to climate-resilient tech and training.
- Heavier household duties limit time for adaptation.
- Increased economic precarity from climate shocks.
These interconnected challenges highlight the specific hurdles women face in Uganda’s coffee sector. Source: Africanews Report Summary & Coffee Expo
Economic Empowerment: Global Support for Ugandan Women in Coffee
The incredible work of Ugandan women in coffee isn’t going unnoticed. There’s a growing wave of support, both locally and from around the world. Women-led coffee cooperatives and companies are getting much-deserved attention. For instance, global coffee retailers like Zocalo Coffee are committing to gender equality initiatives, specifically through programs like “The Women’s Initiative – Uganda” (Zocalo Coffee). This support is crucial. It helps these women gain more economic power, increase their income, and have a bigger say in decisions along the coffee value chain.
Organizations like JENGA Community Development also play a vital role. As a local Ugandan non-profit, JENGA partners with coffee businesses like Zukuka Bora to directly support women producers. They provide training, help build skills, and improve access to markets and finance for smallholder farmers, especially women. Consequently, these efforts help tackle the deep-rooted gender disparities. Supporting women coffee producers is seen as key to ending gender inequality in Uganda’s coffee regions. Furthermore, the success of these women-owned businesses and cooperatives promotes true gender equality in the sector (Zocalo Coffee). This international solidarity is a powerful force, much like the global connections that have historically sustained and uplifted Black communities worldwide.
Spotlight: Kwezi Coffee – Brewing Change
Kwezi Coffee, founded in 2021 by sisters Barbara Mugeni and Pamella Kampire, is a 100% female-owned Ugandan specialty coffee company.
Their mission is about more than just high-quality beans; it’s about empowering women throughout the coffee supply chain and promoting Uganda’s economic growth. They are committed to:
- Sourcing, processing, and exporting fine Ugandan coffee.
- Promoting sustainability and social responsibility.
- Uplifting women farmers and entrepreneurs.
- Carrying on the legacy of pioneering women in East African coffee.
Kwezi Coffee is recognized globally for quality and its deep investment in women’s economic empowerment. Sources: About – Kwezi Coffee, Kwezi Coffee – Uganda Specialty Coffee
Breaking Down Barriers in the Coffee Business
Understanding the “coffee value chain” is key to seeing where Ugandan women are making an impact. This chain includes every step from growing beans to your morning cup. In Uganda, it starts with smallholder farmers, who grow coffee on small plots of land, often less than five hectares. Then, processors clean and prepare beans. Exporters, roasters, and retailers get the coffee to markets worldwide. At each step, value is added, and so is income. Importantly, strengthening women’s roles at all these points is vital for fairness and better lives.
However, gender disparity is a harsh reality. In Uganda’s coffee regions, this means women often don’t own land or get fair access to loans. They might do much of the hard farm work but see less of the money and have little say in big decisions. Cultural norms and biases can also hold them back from leadership. Fortunately, companies like Kwezi Coffee and Zukuka Bora are working to change this. They focus on empowering women with training, finance, and market access, aiming to close the gap and ensure women get their fair share of the coffee economy’s rewards. These efforts not only promote equality but also boost the entire coffee sector’s health and output.
The Path Ahead: Challenges and Aspirations in Ugandan Coffee
Beyond climate change and gender bias, Ugandan women in coffee face other significant hurdles. Poor roads and transport make it tough to get coffee to markets, increasing costs. Coffee prices can swing wildly, creating economic uncertainty, especially for small farmers. Sometimes, government policies don’t offer enough support, or red tape slows things down. Moreover, regional differences in development and education can also affect how well women farmers can compete. These challenges are substantial, requiring comprehensive solutions that involve infrastructure development, stable market mechanisms, and supportive government action.
While the Ugandan government has policies for agriculture and gender equality, its direct support for women-led coffee businesses is still limited. Most hands-on help comes from NGOs and private companies. However, there’s growing recognition that stronger government involvement is needed to truly scale up these empowerment efforts. As these women’s coffee businesses gain more recognition for quality and fairness, they become powerful role models. Their success stories can inspire others, but long-term sustainability will depend on continued investment, strong market links, and an environment that truly supports their growth. It’s important to hear more directly from these women, as firsthand stories would add depth and personal insight to their inspiring journey, making their triumphs and challenges even more relatable.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
