UGANDA | NAMISUNI FARM, MOUNT ELGON, NATURAL

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• Country: Uganda

• Region: Mount Elgon, Mbale

• Producers: Norman Mukuru

• Taste and Aroma: figs, redcurrants, peanut sherbet, black tea

Description

Nestled in the foothills of Mount Elgon, this coffee showcases the classic character of its origin, enhanced by aerobic pre-fermentation in open tanks. A tea-like body meets gentle funkiness and lingering sweetness.

Uganda

Uganda, often called the Pearl of Africa, earned this title from Winston Churchill, who visited in 1907 and was amazed by its beauty, saying it “shines like a jewel in Africa.” Uganda is also one of the few countries where coffee grows naturally as a forest tree. While Robusta coffee comes from tropical rainforests, while Arabica was introduced during British colonial times in the early 1900s. Coffee has long been part of life for Uganda’s indigenous peoples, including the Baganda, Banyankole, and Bakiga, who have cultivated it for generations. The country’s coffee grows in different regions: most Robusta grows in the central and western lowlands near Lake Victoria, where the largest volumes of Arabica come from the cooler, fertile areas of Mount Elgon and the Rwenzori Mountains. Uganda’s fertile volcanic soils, enriched by abundant rains from volcanic ash, along with abundant rainfall and two rainy seasons, provide ideal conditions for coffee cultivation. The Nile River, Lake Victoria, and numerous highland streams supply water that nourishes both the land and the coffee plants. Today, Uganda is Africa’s largest Robusta exporter as well known for its Arabica, that have high sweetness and complexity in cup profile.

Norman Mukuru

Norman Mukuru founded The Coffee Yard in the foothills of Mount Elgon, sourcing coffee from the districts of Sironko, Mbale, Bulambuli, and Kapchorwa–regions known for their fertile volcanic soils, high altitudes, and ideal rainfall. The Coffee Yard operates as a processing station where Norman develops his own coffee lots, sources and buys cherries from local farmers, and oversees their processing and quality improvement to deliver a spectacular cup profile. Being known of in Uganda, Norman has a deep connection to the soil and a lifelong passion for coffee. With nearly 20 years of experience in the industry, he has been producing natural coffees since 2018, constantly refining fermentation and drying methods to create the cup profiles that specialty buyers seek.

The Coffee Yard is not only a processing hub but also a center for farmer support, where Norman provides training and guidance to smallholder producers to improve quality and adopt sustainable practices. His hands-on approach, commitment to excellence, and focus on community development have made The Coffee Yard one of Uganda’s most respected specialty coffee operations. Norman’s coffees that stand out both in flavor and in the positive impact they create locally.