Established in 2006 and headquartered in Bushenyi, the Ankole Coffee Producers Cooperative Union (ACPCU) has become a formidable force in the Ugandan coffee sector. Serving a network of approximately 100,000 farmers in southwestern Uganda, the cooperative specialises in marketing high-quality coffee, alongside cocoa and cashew nuts.
With a workforce of 135 employees and an annual turnover of €10 million, ACPCU is not merely a business but a pillar of community support. The organisation holds prestigious certifications—including ISO 22000:2018, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and EU Organic—demonstrating a robust commitment to economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
Through a long-standing partnership with the Trade for Development Centre (TDC), ACPCU has successfully implemented a series of capacity-building programmes and grant projects to expand its market reach and impact.
A Holistic Approach to Livelihoods
ACPCU provides essential services that go far beyond simple trade, including bulking and marketing, financial management, access to credit, and technical assistance for certification compliance. On the environmental front, the cooperative has integrated over 600,000 indigenous shade trees and distributed energy-efficient cooking stoves.
Through partnerships with Belgian entities like Oxfam Belgium and various commercial customers, ACPCU has delivered significant social impact:
- Education & Health: Construction of five schools serving 3,000 pupils and the establishment of health facilities.
- Support for the Vulnerable: Provision of scholarships for 44 underprivileged students.
- Community Development: Promotion of gender-sensitive policies and decent livelihoods.
2016–2017: Building a Brand with TDC Coaching
Between 2016 and 2017, the Trade for Development Centre supported ACPCU through a Marketing Coaching Programme aimed at securing incomes for members by improving market access. This 18-month programme covered strategic marketing, promotion, sales management, and monitoring.
The results of this intervention were transformative:
- Brand Identity: A complete redesign included a new logo and the positioning statement “Uganda Finest Robusta Speciality Coffee”.
- Digital Presence: A professional website was launched, alongside a newsletter system and a social media strategy for Facebook and LinkedIn.
- Product Development: A speciality coffee line was developed in partnership with GEPA, resulting in the single-origin “Kampala” coffee for the German market.
During this period, aided by factory investments and market conditions, the cooperative saw its turnover increase by 193%, growing from 7.5 billion UGX in 2014 to 22 billion UGX in 2017. Furthermore, average farmer income more than doubled in the same timeframe.
2020–2022: Post-Pandemic Growth and Innovation
The collaboration continued with a €30,000 grant from the TDC to strengthen access to local markets and increase export volumes. The project yielded impressive results, with sales reaching an all-time high of 189 containers in the 2022/2023 fiscal year.
Innovation remained central to this growth:
- New Offerings: The product range expanded to include honey-processed Robusta and natural Arabica.
- Speciality Shift: The proportion of coffee sold as speciality coffee rose from 30% to 40%.
- Certifications: The share of certified coffee sold increased to over 80%, thanks to new certifications including UNBS and ISO.
- Domestic Market: Local sales volumes tripled compared to 2020, and a dedicated local marketing department was established.
2024–2027: The Future is Transparent and Digital
Looking ahead, ACPCU has secured a new €90,000 grant from the TDC for a project running through 2027 titled “Empowering Coffee Communities through Transparent Value Chains and LIRP Sustainability”.
The objectives for this new phase are ambitious and forward-thinking:
- Traceability: Establishing a transparent value chain that builds trust through digitisation.
- Living Income: Facilitating the payment of a Living Income Reference Price (LIRP) to farmers to ensure decent livelihoods.
- Data Governance: Empowering farmers and communities to control their own data, ensuring their interests are protected.
This initiative aims to empower local youth groups through digital capacity building and ensure a more sustainable, competitive coffee market where farmers receive equitable incomes.
