About Us
United Organic Coffee Growers Limited (U.O.C.G) is a Fairtrade certified under FLO ID: 25094 and Organic certified coffee producer organization.
About
Who we are
United Organic Coffee Growers Limited (U.O.C.G) is a Fairtrade certified under FLO ID: 25094 and Organic certified coffee producer organization. It is located in Buyobo Sub-county, Sironko District, at the foot of Mt Elgon in Eastern Uganda with the altitude range of 2500 – 3500m above the sea level. The area is 5 hours’ drive from Kampala and 30 minutes from Mbale town. Our organization is dedicated to producing certified high-quality organic coffee to improve the socio-economic welfare of our community.
It began as a youth group in Bunamakongo “A” village from Nakidega Church, comprising both boys and girls as Buyobo Elgon Beekeepers. The group consisted of 20 members who initially focused on apiary projects to improve their socio-economic welfare. The project led to an increase in pollinators through sustainable honey harvesting techniques, which in turn resulted in a significant increase in coffee yields. This success inspired the group to venture into marketing their coffee, eventually leading to the establishment of United Organic Coffee Growers Ltd in March 2007.
Objectives of the Project
Overall Objective
To improve members’ livelihoods by paying fair prices that cover production costs and enhance their bargaining power in the market.
Specific Objectives
Ensure Fair Pricing: Establish a pricing structure that guarantees fair compensation to farmers, covering their production costs and providing a sustainable income.
Enhance Bargaining Power: Develop strategies and initiatives to strengthen the collective bargaining power of farmers in the market.
Market Access Improvement: Facilitate access to both local and international markets to expand sales opportunities for farmers.
Training and Capacity Building: Provide training and resources to farmers to improve their negotiation skills and understanding of market dynamics.
Quality Improvement: Implement practices and standards to enhance the quality of coffee, making it more competitive and attractive in the market.
Support Infrastructure Development: Invest in necessary infrastructure to support efficient production, processing, and marketing of coffee.
Foster Collaboration: Promote collaboration and partnerships with other stakeholders in the coffee industry to create a stronger market presence.
Advocate for Policy Support: Engage with policymakers to advocate for supportive policies that protect and empower smallholder farmers.
Mission & Vision
To improve the livelihoods of our members by ensuring they receive fair prices that cover production costs and enhance their bargaining power in the market.
Note from the Chairman, Board of Directors
On behalf of United Organic Coffee Growers Ltd, I am delighted to extend a warm invitation to you to experience and purchase our premium Fairtrade and Organic Arabica coffee. Our dedication to sustainable farming practices and quality assurance ensures that every bean reflects the rich heritage and unique flavors of the Mt. Elgon region. We invite you to join us in supporting our community and savoring the exceptional taste of our Fairtrade and Organic certified coffee. Come and be a part of our journey towards excellence and sustainability. We look forward to welcoming you.
Additionally, we are looking forward to partnering with investors, donors, and development partners to support our other projects, particularly in processing, infrastructure development, and green growth initiatives. Your collaboration can help us enhance our capabilities and further uplift our community. Together, we can achieve greater impact and drive sustainable growth. Thank you for your support.
Alex Musawale Samba
Chairman, Board of Directors
United Organic Coffee Growers LTD.
Note from Board of Directors
I wish to thank the management of United Organic Coffee Growers (UOCG) Limited for working to make our company to fit in the business world more fairer and sharing.
As a company, we rely on business partnerships to continue on our journey of growth in unison and in a focused manner.
Therefore, if one is looking for serious business engagements, UOCG Limited is the best place for you.
We entrust to God the future of our company who has given us the ability to mobilize our committees to engage in commercial farming for social economic transformation. Together we create a fair world of business.
Rt. Rev. Samuel Gidudu
Member, Board of Directors
Note from the Managing Director.
I am delighted to welcome you to United Organic Coffee Growers Limited., where we pride ourselves on producing the highest quality Fairtrade and Organic Arabica coffee. Our unwavering commitment to sustainable farming practices, gender equality, fair pay, and stringent quality control ensures that every bean captures the rich, distinctive flavors of the Mt. Elgon region.
Our success is fueled by a team of highly skilled, motivated, and dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to deliver excellence across all our projects. We prioritize workers’ rights, fostering an inclusive environment where every voice is heard and valued. This dedication extends beyond our exceptional coffee to our diverse initiatives aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of our farmers and supporting community development.
We invite prospective investors, donors, and development partners to join us in our mission to innovate and expand our efforts in processing, infrastructure development, and green growth projects. Your partnership will be instrumental in driving long-term sustainability and prosperity for our community.
Thank you for your trust and support. We look forward to a successful collaboration and achieving remarkable milestones together.
Peter Ocen Aguma
Managing Director
Production/ICS Manager
At United Organic Coffee Growers Limited, we are deeply committed to producing high-quality certified coffees that not only meets but exceeds industry standards. Our dedication to quality begins at the farm, where we implement sustainable farming practices that respect and preserve our environment. Through careful cultivation and meticulous processing, we ensure that every batch of our coffee reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence.
Our focus on environmental sensitivity means that we use eco-friendly methods throughout our production process, from organic farming techniques to responsible waste management. This not only helps protect our natural resources but also contributes to the superior taste and quality of our coffee.
We are proud to produce and market a significant volume of certified Fairtrade and Organic Arabica coffee. Our certifications are a testament to our adherence to the highest standards of quality and sustainability. As we continue to grow, we remain dedicated to maintaining the integrity of our coffee and the well-being of our community and environment.
Thank you for choosing United Organic Coffee Growers Ltd. We look forward to sharing our exceptional coffee with you.
Innocent Walude
Production Manager
Our History
In 2000, it began as a youth group of 20 members, both boys and girls, from Nakidega Church in Bunamakongo “A” village, primarily focusing on apiary to improve their socio-economic welfare.
Later, the elders also joined, and in 2001 the group was registered as a Community Based Organization under the name Buyobo Elgon Bee Keeping Association.
In 2004, the farmers who kept beehives for honey observed that the quality and production of their coffee had improved compared to non-beekeepers, which they attributed to integrating bees into coffee farming. The members then came up with the idea to form an organized producer organization with the purpose of marketing coffee from its members.
In 2007, the farmers registered the association as United Organic Coffee Growers Limited by Guarantee. They then started selling their coffee to Zigoti Coffee Works Limited, which exported it to Japan.
Then NOGAMU trained farmers on organic farming and Internal Control Systems. In 2010, the farmers were certified as organic producers by Ceres, with the certificate owned by Zigoti Coffee Works Limited, which paid the certification fees.
The organization had a production capacity of about 808,907 kg of parchment coffee (equivalent to 787,867 kg of green bean) from 1,000 coffee members, with the coffee sold on the local market.
In 2014, Fairtrade certification for coffee exportation was obtained, and in 2015, Organic certification for NOP and EU standards was granted by Ceres. We began exporting to EZA, GEPA, and later PARAGON as Fair Trade and Organic certified coffee in 2016. The rest was sold as conventional.
In 2018, farmers initiated a vanilla project to increase household incomes and improve livelihoods by integrating coffee and vanilla cultivation.
In 2019, farmers also initiated a clean energy project to reduce emissions and maintain the health of mothers around the Elgon Zone by providing energy-saving cook stoves (5,000 cook stoves so far). This helped protect and conserve the environment by curbing deforestation. Since then, the organization has made remarkable progress in enhancing the livelihoods of members through better price bargaining.
Volumes, Number of Farmers & Areas
United Organic Coffee Growers Ltd has 1,501 coffee farmers located in the different areas of Sironko, Bulambuli and Kapchorwa with an average annual yield of 1,194,197 kg of green bean coffee per year.
Market Target
The market is coffee roasters around the world looking for certified, specialty and conventional coffee. This has been mainly in America, Europe, Asia and the local market.
Other projects to be implemented
- Produce
- Events Management
- Microfinance to Coffee Farmers
Meet our Team
Board of Directors
Samba Musawale Alex
Board Chairman
Rt. Rev. Samuel Gidudu
Board Member
Bamwoze Beatrice
Board Secretary
Management Team
Peter Ocen Aguma
Managing Director
Everline Nagudi
Finance Manager
Innocent Walude
Production/ICS/IMS Manager
Patrick Masongo
Asst. Production manager
Joel Tim Wasukira
Enviroment officer
Kaigo Karimu
Quality Controller
Our Partners
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you! For inquiries, reach out to Mr. Samba Musawale Alex at 0782244742 or via email at unitedorgcoffee@gmail.com. Visit us at Bunamakongo Village, Buyobo Sub County, Budadiri West Constituency, Sironko District, Uganda.