Strengthening Uganda’s Tea Sector: A Strategic Dialogue with Solidaridad and Global Partners

On 10th July, 2025, Uganda Agribusiness Alliance (UAA) hosted a strategic partnership meeting with a delegation from Solidaridad Network, led by Country Director for Uganda, Mr. Alex Amanya. The engagement focused on unlocking the potential of Uganda’s tea value chain, with a special emphasis on smallholder farmers.
Also present were key international partners, including Tea in Motion, represented by its CEO Ms. Cinja Schukkirk, and the International Tea & Coffee Academy from the Netherlands. The presence of these stakeholders marked a significant step toward transforming Uganda’s tea industry into a globally competitive and inclusive sector.

Key Themes of the Discussion

The meeting centered around the following strategic priorities:

• Empowering Smallholder Farmers: Enabling farmers to not only produce but also export and import, turning them into key players in the international value chain.
• Enhancing Market Access: Identifying and addressing price distortions caused by middlemen while strengthening direct linkages between producers and consumers.
• Strategic Partnerships: Emphasizing the importance of cultivating long-term partnerships across the value chain, from field to cup.
• User-Friendly Tea Value Chain Models: Introducing simplified and scalable models that are accessible to grassroots actors and can be adopted nationwide.

Driving Inclusive Growth

A highlight of the discussion was the mutual commitment to making the tea sector more inclusive and youth-driven. Specific action points included:

• Engaging women’s tea associations in national Best Farmer Award competitions. 
• Introducing tea-centered learning activities in schools to nurture early interest and knowledge in agribusiness. 
• Including tea conversations in platforms like the The School Farm Camp, which brings youth closer to agricultural innovation and opportunity.

The emerging partnership between UAA and Solidaridad will prioritize policy advocacy, multi-stakeholder engagement, and awareness creation. Together, the aim is to co-create an environment where Ugandan tea thrives both locally and globally, while empowering the very hands that grow it.

Uganda has all the right ingredients to become a leader in the global specialty tea market. Through collaboration, innovation, and strategic investment, that future is well within reach.