Kapchorwa, Uganda: Coffee farmers across Sebei and Bugisu sub-regions are facing devastating losses following a widespread outbreak of Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) and Coffee Leaf Rust, two of the most destructive diseases affecting Arabica coffee production in East Africa.
The outbreak has severely hit Kabeywa and Munarya sub-counties in Kapchorwa District, along with Buginyanya and Bulegeni in Bulambuli District, crippling coffee yields and threatening the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers.
According to Martin Wandera, a farmer from Kapkwateny Parish in Munarya, the outbreak has shattered farmers’ hopes of benefiting from the recent surge in global coffee prices. “The outbreak has robbed farmers of the opportunity to benefit from high coffee prices,” Wandera told DailyExpress.
Farmers Sarah Nabutono and Fred Nangoli from Bulegeni, Bulambuli District, described the situation as desperate, saying coffee remains the only reliable source of income for most families.
“We are stranded. The trees are dying, and there is no agricultural support coming through,” Nabutono said, while Nangoli added, “Without coffee, many families here have no means to survive.”
Understanding the Diseases
Coffee Berry Disease (CBD), scientifically known as Colletotrichum kahawae, is an aggressive fungal infection that attacks Arabica coffee, and is confined to Africa, with major outbreaks recorded in East Africa and Cameroon. The disease manifests as black lesions on young berries, leading to rotting and premature berry drop, a characteristic symptom that drastically cuts yields.
Under humid conditions, infected berries exhibit pink spore masses on the surface, and entire branches may lose fruit before maturity.
Meanwhile, Coffee Leaf Rust, caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix, remains the most destructive coffee disease globally, responsible for losses worth billions of dollars annually. First identified in Africa in 1861 and later in Sri Lanka in 1867, the disease rapidly spread across all major coffee-producing nations.
It typically begins with yellow-orange powdery spots on the underside of coffee leaves, causing defoliation, twig dieback, and eventual plant death in severe cases.
Local Impact and Response
Agricultural officials in the region have sounded the alarm, noting that the situation mirrors last year’s outbreak, which severely affected farmers in Bulambuli and Sironko districts.
In Sironko, sub-counties such as Buhugu, Masaba, Busulani, Bumasifwa, and Bumalimba were among the hardest hit. Francis Nabugodi, the Sironko District Agricultural Officer, confirmed that the outbreak has severely undermined production and incomes.
“This disease has negatively impacted farmers in terms of production, and since it’s coffee season, they are going to make losses,” Nabugodi said.
He revealed that his office has instructed agricultural extension workers to launch mass sensitization campaigns in affected sub-counties to educate farmers on preventive measures, including early detection, regular spraying, and field hygiene to contain the spread.
Experts are also urging farmers to prune infected trees, apply recommended fungicides, and plant resistant coffee varieties to mitigate the long-term damage.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is yet to issue an official response, but district leaders are calling for urgent intervention and financial support to save the region’s coffee industry, which supports thousands of households in eastern Uganda.
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