Uganda: Sipi Falls Project

Uganda might not the first country that comes to mind when thinking of high quality coffee. In many regions of the country the challenges are more a matter of infrastructure, history and knowledge than environment. The locals believe that God lives on Mt. Elgon (bordering Kenya) and that when he is happy, he delivers rain to the bountiful gardens clinging to the mountainside. Indeed, these green, fertile hillsides are very nearly divine territory for the production of fantastic coffees, and producers are increasingly realizing the potential of specialty coffee in this region. By promoting the cultivation of specialty coffee, training farmers in agricultural techniques and best practices, educating widely regarding the importance of harvest and post harvest activities, and building top-notch washing stations, the project hopes to put Uganda ‘on the map’ as the next big destination for specialty coffee. The Sipi Falls Organic Coffee Product was initiated in 1999 in Uganda’s Kapchorwa dis