Alur Kingdom receives 10,000 coffee seedlings
While clonal coffee seedlings typically cost between UGX 300 and UGX 1,500, many are provided free of charge under government programs to promote wide adoption and increase household incomes.
Zombo: In a significant move toward agricultural revitalization, the Alur Kingdom has received 10,000 clonal coffee seedlings from Hongera Sana Uganda, a non-governmental organization working in partnership with Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) under the Office of the President.
The donation, made on April 12, 2025, is part of a broader initiative aimed at driving agro-based socio-economic transformation through community empowerment and sustainable agriculture.
The seedlings were formally received by Deputy Prime Minister Vincent Orach Ocaya during a ceremony at the Alur Kingdom’s palace in Kal Atyak Winam, Atyak Sub-county, Zombo District.
The distribution is being coordinated by Prince Ochaya Vincent, Deputy Prime Minister and Executive Director, alongside Minister for Production and Natural Resources John Pascal Wapokra.
The initiative was spearheaded by Hon. Maj. Stephen Cwinya-ai Obimo, Minister for Security, whose advocacy was instrumental in securing the donation. His efforts were hailed as an example of how traditional leadership can help mobilize resources for community development.
“Agriculture remains one of the most effective pathways to eradicate poverty, offering substantial returns to rural communities,” Ocaya said during the event. He lauded the donation as a crucial step toward sustainable livelihood enhancement in the region.
Hongera Sana Uganda, inaugurated in April 2025 under the Office of the President, is a presidential mobilization body focused on promoting peace, stability, and socio-economic progress.
Its national coordinator, Ashraf Mugomba, described the donation as a milestone in their partnership with the Alur Kingdom.
“This marks the beginning of a collaborative journey to empower our people especially the youth by integrating them into productive agricultural enterprises,” Mugomba stated.
Zombo District and parts of neighboring Nebbi District notably Erussi and Dhew Sub-counties have long been associated with coffee farming. However, persistent poverty and low yields have limited the economic potential of the sector for smallholder farmers.
This donation seeks to revitalize coffee production by introducing high-yielding clonal varieties, which are better suited to the region’s altitude and climate, offering greater productivity and income potential.
John Pascal Wapokra, Minister of Lands and Production, expressed gratitude to both OWC and Hongera Sana Uganda, emphasizing the potential to “strengthen the coffee value chain and uplift thousands of farming households.”
Coffee remains Uganda’s leading agricultural export, playing a critical role in foreign exchange earnings and rural livelihoods. The country ranks as Africa’s largest coffee exporter and among the top 10 producers globally.
Uganda produced 6.7 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee in the 2024/2025 marketing year a 4.69% increase from the previous year. This growth was attributed to favorable weather, improved agronomic practices, and the maturation of previously planted seedlings.
Forecasts for 2025/2026 project production to reach 6.88 million bags, reflecting continued expansion driven by initiatives like the Alur Kingdom’s.
Coffee is grown across five regions: Central (2.83 million bags), Western (1.99 million bags), Eastern (1.8 million bags), South-Western (1.05 million bags), and Northern (0.45 million bags). Northern Uganda, including Zombo, is emerging as a hub for high-altitude Arabica production.
Zombo is quickly gaining recognition as a promising hub for high-altitude Arabica coffee, a premium variety sought after on the global market.
To boost national output to 20 million bags annually by 2025, the Ugandan government has distributed over 300 million coffee seedlings through OWC and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS).
While clonal coffee seedlings typically cost between UGX 300 and UGX 1,500, many are provided free of charge under government programs to promote wide adoption and increase household incomes.
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