KCB Bank Uganda has officially joined the newly formed Uganda Coffee Group (UCG), a landmark private sector-led initiative designed to retain the maximum value of Uganda’s coffee within the country.
The initiative was officially launched on 15 October 2026 at the Kapeeka Industrial Park. The platform serves as an indigenous investment and commercialization vehicle, uniting key stakeholders—including farmers, cooperatives, processors, manufacturers, investors, and financial institutions—to mobilize strategic capital for the domestic coffee value chain.
The primary objective of the Uganda Coffee Group is to transition the nation’s coffee economy beyond the export of raw beans. The coalition is working to empower local enterprises to grow, process, roast, package, brand, and distribute finished coffee products globally.
This partnership arrives at a time of historic performance for the local coffee sector. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda’s coffee industry achieved record-breaking milestones in the latest financial cycle:
Speaking at the launch, Gen. Salim Saleh—Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, Senior Presidential Adviser, and the group’s chief fundraiser—urged public and private stakeholders alike to aggressively back the initiative to maximize national returns on the cash crop.
Edgar Byamah, Managing Director of KCB Bank Uganda, confirmed that the bank will utilize its robust regional footprint to deliver agricultural financing, trade expertise, and comprehensive value-chain development.
“Coffee transcends borders. It is a crop that is present in four or five of the countries in the East African Community, and we bring that experience on top of access to market, which is very critical,” Byamah said.
Byamah noted that KCB Bank’s proven track record with aggregators and value-addition financing in other major sectors, such as sugar, will heavily underpin its operational strategy in the coffee sector. He further pledged the bank’s full compliance and initial member contributions to the group.
To immediately accelerate this industrial shift, KCB Bank Uganda offers dedicated, accessible financial products for sector players Unsecured Contract Financing Up to UGX 800 million available for aggregators and processors and Invoice Financing tailored working capital solutions to bridge cash flow gaps during processing and trade.
Moving forward, KCB Bank Uganda will collaborate with the alliance to deliver against five primary development pillars:
Climate-Smart Production,Quality Improvement: Upgrading processing methods to guarantee premium coffee quality,Domestic Manufacturing: Increasing local roasting, packaging, and processing infrastructure,Research & Innovation: Investing in cutting-edge agricultural and logistical technologies and global Competitiveness building and marketing a recognizable, premium Ugandan coffee brand worldwide.
KCB Bank Uganda is a leading commercial bank licensed by the Bank of Uganda. As part of the KCB Group, the bank provides innovative financial solutions across corporate, retail, and SME sectors, with a deep commitment to regional trade integration and sustainable economic advancement across East Africa.
