A group of women coffee farmers from the Bugisu region in Uganda convened at the Mayor’s Gardens in Mbale to voice their concerns and interface directly with duty bearers and farmer organizations. The event, hosted by Food Rights Alliance in partnership with ActionAid Uganda, aimed to promote compliance, sustainability, and equity in Uganda’s coffee value chain.
The women farmers highlighted several challenges they face, including lack of technical knowledge and support services, limited access to financial resources, and entrenched gender dynamics that stifle progress. They also expressed concerns about the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its potential impact on their livelihoods.
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“We need targeted training and orientation on these reforms and reassurance that our coffee market is protected,” said Ms. Gladys Nawire, a member of Namanyonyi Salom Cooperative Society. “We are producing coffee in a system that’s leaving us behind.”
The women farmers also called for greater representation in coffee cooperatives and decision-making spaces, enhanced access to agricultural extension services, and financial literacy programs. They emphasized the need for recognition of women’s land rights and inclusion in land registration processes aligned with the EUDR.
Duty bearers at the event listened attentively to the concerns of the women farmers and acknowledged the need for support and guidance. “We are here to provide technical guidance, support in inputs, and help with value addition,” said Mr. Otheino Mangeni, Head of Production in Mbale City.
The event concluded with a clear message from Ms. Julian Amanya, a representative of Food Rights Alliance: “This Baraza was about giving women a direct platform to interface with duty bearers, to seek clarity, and push for the support they need to navigate the changing coffee sector.”
The women farmers’ demands include:
- Simplified and localized training on the EUDR and related market requirements
- Greater representation of women in coffee cooperatives and decision-making spaces
- Enhanced access to agricultural extension services
- Financial literacy programs
- Full recognition of women’s land rights and inclusion in land registration processes
- Targeted government support and investment in women-led cooperatives
The event aims to catalyze sustained engagement and structural reform in Uganda’s coffee sector, ensuring that women farmers are recognized, supported, and empowered to thrive.
