Stakeholders in Uganda’s coffee industry are raising alarm over the escalating theft of coffee shipments in transit through Kenya, describing it as a major threat to the sector’s growth and stability.
Kenneth Barigye, a prominent coffee producer and exporter, warned that the thefts are not isolated incidents but part of a growing, organized problem. “This is no longer isolated. It is organized, targeted, and disrupting trade,” Barigye said. He appealed to the government to take urgent action to secure transit corridors, protect exporters, and safeguard the incomes of coffee farmers.
“Coffee is livelihoods, foreign exchange, and national reputation. We cannot afford inaction,” Barigye emphasized.
Uganda, Africa’s leading coffee exporter, relies heavily on safe and efficient trade routes to Kenya and beyond. As theft cases rise, stakeholders are calling for swift intervention to maintain the sector’s momentum and protect the interests of all players along the value chain.
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