Uganda Uganda is racing toward the December 31, 2025 deadline for compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR); a requirement for all coffee and other key commodities exported to the EU market to be certified deforestation-free and aligned with sustainability standards.
While Uganda has emerged as a regional leader in implementation, a significant funding gap and national farmer registration drive have highlighted the scale of the challenge. As of March 2025, 900,000 farm polygons had been digitally mapped, and 805,000 coffee farmers registered; covering nearly 70% of the coffee value chain. However, only $1 million out of an estimated $25 million required for full compliance has been secured, largely from ABI Trust and the EU.
Under the EUDR, exporters must also document their impact on forests, human rights, labor rights, taxation, and value chain traceability; including processors, warehouse operators, and freight agents. Commodities affected include coffee, tea, timber, avocado, cotton, and chilli, while vanilla and maize remain exempt for now.
Uganda’s innovative use of digital mapping tools has generated an unprecedented national coffee database; enabling smarter input distribution, disease forecasting, credit access, and data-driven decision-making. Industry leaders stress that private sector engagement is crucial to meet certification costs and expand awareness, especially among semi-literate rural farmers.
Despite the dissolution of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), the Ministry of Agriculture continues to coordinate the compliance strategy. Stakeholders now call for a national coffee registry policy, digital audit mechanisms, and integration with financial institutions to scale sustainable growth and protect Uganda’s access to the EU; its top coffee market, accounting for 70% of exports.
