Month by month
| Region / species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central belt Robusta — main crop | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||
| Central belt Robusta — fly crop | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||
| Western Robusta (Bushenyi, Kasese) | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||
| Mount Elgon Arabica (Bugisu, Sipi) | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||
| Rwenzori Arabica | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||
| West Nile Arabica | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
● = harvest in progress (indicative). Fresh-crop coffee is normally ready for shipment six to ten weeks after the harvest peak, once drying, hulling and grading are complete.
Shipment windows
- Central Robusta, main crop: fresh Screen 18, 15 and 12 ship from December through May; this is the period for programme shipments and the widest choice of lots.
- Central Robusta, fly crop: smaller volumes ship July to September, bridging to the new crop.
- Western Robusta: fills the middle of the year.
- Bugisu Arabica: fresh-crop washed Bugisu ships from about January, with the bulk February to May; late-season lots are available into the third quarter.
- Rwenzori and West Nile Arabica: two arrivals a year, roughly May–August and December–February, so fresh washed and natural lots are available twice.
Planning samples and contracts
Ask for offer samples as the harvest peaks — November to December for central Robusta and Bugisu, and around April and November for Rwenzori — so that contracts can be fixed while the widest range of lots is available. Pre-shipment samples follow once the lot is prepared. For annual programmes we agree shipment months against this calendar and fix pricing per shipment or in advance as you prefer.
Weather and variability
Uganda's bimodal rainfall (roughly March–May and September–November) drives flowering and ripening; a wet harvest slows drying and can raise defect counts, a dry one advances the crop. Altitude shifts the window later on the higher slopes of Elgon and the Rwenzori. We treat the calendar above as a planning guide and confirm the actual window for each lot.
Frequently asked questions
When is coffee harvested in Uganda?
It depends on the region. Central Robusta and Mount Elgon Arabica are harvested mainly from October to February, with a Robusta fly crop from May to August; Rwenzori and West Nile Arabica have two windows, roughly March–June and October–December.
When is fresh-crop Uganda Robusta available?
From about December through May for the central belt's main crop, with fly-crop and western coffee available through the middle of the year.
When is fresh-crop Bugisu available?
From about January, following the October–February harvest, with most volume shipping February to May.
What is the Uganda coffee year?
October to September. MAAIF reports export volumes and values by coffee year on that basis, and crop years on lot specifications follow it (for example 2026/27).