Uganda’s Mwanyi Terimba Limited is seeking Ush5 billion ($1.24 million) in working capital to expand its coffee purchasing and export operations and invest in processing facilities, as the Buganda Kingdom-owned company moves to increase its participation in the coffee value chain.

The funding will support coffee purchases, exports and the development of processing infrastructure, according to Godfrey Ssebaggala Lusiba Sebaka, the company’s vice-chairperson of the board of directors.

Mwanyi Terimba targets expansion beyond green coffee exports

Mwanyi Terimba initially concentrated on exporting green coffee to markets including China, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Europe. It is now seeking to expand into processing to add more value. Sebaka said he had spent two terms establishing the coffee purchasing business and the infrastructure required to support its export operations.

Sebaka said the company needs substantial capital to maintain sufficient coffee supplies, noting that purchasing enough beans to fill a single 20-foot container costs about Ush300 million ($73,319). “Coffee has become an expensive commodity, and we need substantial capital to sustain our operations. Sometimes financing from banking institutions comes with high interest rates, which the company cannot easily afford,” he said.

The company plans to develop processing facilities in Wobulenzi, in Luweero District, and Nakisunga along the new Jinja Highway. The Nakisunga facility is expected to occupy 3.5 acres allocated by the Buganda Land Board. Mwanyi Terimba is working with Uganda Development Bank on the project while exploring partnerships and pre-financing arrangements with other stakeholders to secure more affordable working capital.

Buganda pushes domestic coffee consumption and value addition

Buganda Prime Minister Charles Peter Mayiga has urged Mwanyi Terimba to prioritise promoting coffee grown in Buganda within the domestic market before pursuing further international sales.

Mayiga also encouraged the company to invest in coffee cleaning and processing, alongside establishing clear quality standards and traceability systems to strengthen the value of its products.

Mwanyi Terimba was established as the commercial arm of the Buganda Kingdom’s Emmwanyi Terimba coffee-growing campaign, launched in 2016 under Mayiga’s leadership. The company is structured as a limited-liability business focused on coffee exports and value addition.

Uganda’s coffee exports generate $2.25 billion

The company’s expansion plans come as coffee continues to generate substantial export earnings for Uganda.

The country earned Ush9.2 trillion ($2.25 billion) from coffee exports between December 2024 and December 2025, shipping 8.7 million 60-kilogramme bags during the period.

The Uganda Coffee Producers Association projects that annual coffee export earnings could reach Ush20 trillion ($4.89 billion) by 2030, reflecting expectations of further growth in the sector.

For Mwanyi Terimba, the proposed Ush5 billion funding is intended to strengthen its purchasing capacity, sustain export supplies and establish processing operations, positioning the company to capture more value from Uganda’s coffee industry.