1. What inspired you to venture into coffee value addition, particularly with Robusta, and how did you overcome the common perception that agriculture is not a viable career path for youth?

I am Winnifred Kwala, the founder of Kooki Coffee. Growing up from a farming family in Rakai district in the Greater Masaka province, my passion for agriculture was inspired by the deep connection to my roots.

 Coffee was among the crops cultivated at least by each home making it a major source of livelihood for most people. At undergraduate study, I pursued a Bachelor of science in agribusiness Management through which I conducted my research about coffee productivity among small scale holder farmers in Lwanda sub county. The results showed a number of challenges which included low prices and poor post-harvest handling practices among others.

While working with the Consortium for Enhancing Universities Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development (CURAD) Limited, an agribusiness incubator with Makerere University I realized I could add value to a few commodities grown by my local people with the desire to transform my community and coffee stood out.   

Because Uganda is the birth Place of robusta Coffee, and it is the main cash crop in my community. Despite its rich flavour and high yield, it was often overlooked compared to Arabica. This was an opportunity I realized to add value to Robusta and showcase its potential on the global stage.

2. Can you share your journey of establishing Kooki Coffee and the challenges you faced in the initial stages?

Establishing Kooki Coffee was a journey filled with learning and growth. Starting up in late 2021, I faced challenges such as limited access to capital, scepticism from potential partners, and the steep learning curve of coffee processing and marketing. However, I remained persistent, seeking mentorship, leveraging available resources, and building a dedicated team that shared my vision. The turning point was when we secured our first major order, which validated our efforts and opened doors to more opportunities

3. How does your project impact the local community, and what initiatives have you implemented to support coffee farmers?

Kooki Coffee has positively impacted the local community. By sourcing coffee from our local community, we have provided market for farmers’ coffee creating jobs and also acting as a source of income, particularly for women and youth coffee farmers, and improving their livelihoods. 

We have also taken initiatives to implement training programs that educate farmers on sustainable farming practices, pre- and post-harvest practices of coffee, increasing both the quality and quantity of their yields.  Gender mainstreaming lessons to ensure inclusivity in the coffee sector. Additionally, we’ve established a fair-trade system that ensures farmers receive a fair price for their coffee, which motivates them to invest more in their farms.

4. What is your take on the recent record-breaking coffee exports in Uganda, and how do you think this will affect coffee farmers and the industry as a whole?

Well, coffee statistics have been on an increase over the years since 2017 and the recent surge in Uganda’s coffee exports is a testament to the hard work of our farmers and the growing global recognition of Ugandan coffee’s quality.

This success should translate into better incomes for farmers, processors and other value chain actors with more investment in the coffee sector. The recent coffee market prices have given us an assurance that the coffee sector can ably liberate Ugandans from the high poverty levels thus providing an enabler into the middle-class economy.

 However, it also highlights the need for continued efforts in uptake of new technologies, value addition, branding, and improving processing techniques to ensure that farmers benefit fully from this growth.

5. How do you think the growing demand for Ugandan coffee globally will influence local production and value addition initiatives like yours?

The increasing global demand for Ugandan coffee presents a significant opportunity for local producers and value addition initiatives like Kooki Coffee. For the fact that the country has now geared towards production of more quality coffee and quantities. The demand will likely drive improvements in farming practices, more investment in infrastructure, and an increase in the production of high-quality coffee. For businesses like mine, it means there’s a greater market to exploit, encouraging us to innovate and expand our operations to meet international standards.

6. Congratulations on your upcoming exchange program in Kenya! How do you anticipate this training will benefit your coffee business and advocacy efforts?

Thank You! I believe and anticipate to increase my social capital outside Uganda such that link to bigger and more diversified markets. With better markets linkages, I will be able to procure more quantities of coffee from the local community, create more employment opportunities for youths and also ensure environmental sustainability.

I will also gain more knowledge regarding the coffee industry and strategize on my advocacy and lobbying plans

7. What specific skills or knowledge do you hope to acquire during the program, and how will you apply them to your work?

The exchange program in Kenya is an exciting opportunity that I believe will enhance both my business acumen and advocacy efforts. This experience will help me bring new ideas and methods back to Uganda, improving Kooki Coffee’s operations and further advocating for the value addition in the coffee industry.  I hope to acquire more knowledge about lobbying and how to identify strategies, implementing of monitoring and evaluation activities to help make more befitting policies and activities aimed to empower other rural women. 

I hope to apply the knowledge through coaching, mentorship and engagement in capacity development activities for rural women.

8. How do you plan to leverage your experience and network from the program to promote Ugandan coffee and support rural women in agriculture?

I aim to deepen my understanding of advanced coffee processing techniques, international market dynamics, and sustainable business practices. I’m also eager to learn about successful models of farmer cooperatives and how to implement them effectively. These skills and knowledge will be directly applied to improve the efficiency of Kooki Coffee, enhance our product quality, and expand our market reach. I plan to use the knowledge and connections gained from the program to promote Ugandan coffee on a larger scale, particularly in European markets. Additionally, I want to develop programs that empower rural women in agriculture by providing them with the tools and skills needed to succeed in the coffee industry. Networking with international experts will help me establish partnerships that can support these initiatives.

9. What message would you like to convey to fellow youth and women considering a career in agriculture or entrepreneurship?

Agriculture offers immense opportunities, especially for the youth and women. It’s not just about farming; it’s about innovating new ideas, entrepreneurship, and contributing to global food security. My advice is to approach agriculture with an open mind, seek out mentorship, and be willing to learn continuously. Agriculture is a viable and rewarding career path that can bring positive change to communities

10. What are your future plans for Kooki Coffee, and how do you envision your business contributing to the growth of Uganda’s coffee industry?

The future for Kooki Coffee involves scaling up our operations to more parts in the Greater Masaka region, expanding into new local and international markets, and continuing to innovate in product development. We also plan to deepen our community impact by investing in education programs for our local farmers’ children, skilling them in other economic ideas and providing more employment opportunities. Ultimately, we aim to contribute significantly to the growth of Uganda’s coffee industry by setting a standard for quality and sustainability

11. How has your coffee business impacted the local economy, and what specific contributions has it made to addressing unemployment in the area?

Kooki Coffee has created employment opportunities, currently we employ 2 full time employees and 3 part time employees.  Particularly our major focus is on women and youth, helping to reduce unemployment in Kooki. By sourcing coffee directly from local farmers and paying them fairly, we’ve improved their economic stability. The skills training we provide also equips individuals with the knowledge they need to start their own ventures, further contributing to the local economy.

12. Can you share any success stories or testimonials from individuals who have benefited from employment or skills training through your business?

One of our success stories is a young woman Nangonzi Solomy, who joined our training program with little knowledge oncoffee post-harvest handling and processing. Today, she’s a lead processor at Kooki Coffee and has been able to support her family and even start a small side business. Another example is a group of farmers called Lwanda Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative who, after attending our workshops, improved their farming techniques and saw a 20% increase in their coffee yields.

Lastly a few youths including Emmanuel Onenchan and John Mulindwa have been able to start up their own coffee brands after trainings, mentorship and coaching on how the coffee business works. These stories inspire us to continue our work and demonstrate the positive impact Kooki Coffee has on individuals and the community.