Kampala, Uganda: Dr Emmanuel Iyamulemye, the former Executive Director of the now-defunct Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), has died at the age of 54, marking the passing of one of Uganda’s most influential agricultural scientists and coffee sector reformists.
The news of Dr Iyamulemye’s death was confirmed on Tuesday morning by Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, who described him as a “pillar of Uganda’s coffee industry” and a key figure behind the country’s exponential growth in coffee production and export earnings.
Tumwebaze said Dr Iyamulemye played a central leadership role in designing and implementing Uganda’s national coffee roadmap, a plan credited with strengthening quality controls, expanding farmer-extension systems and positioning Uganda among the world’s most competitive coffee origins.
“Under his leadership, Uganda strengthened its coffee quality standards, expanded farmer extension support systems, and positioned itself as one of the world’s most competitive coffee origins,” the minister said.
“He fought firmly in international coffee bodies demanding proper classification of African coffees—Uganda’s Robusta and Ethiopia’s Arabica. He was bold, firm and intelligent. Together with colleagues, he worked hard to open new coffee markets for Uganda, including China,” Tumwebaze added.
A Career Defined by Agricultural Reforms
With more than 20 years of corporate and agricultural leadership, Dr Iyamulemye is widely credited for transforming Uganda’s coffee sector during a period of record growth, culminating in annual coffee earnings rising to $1.9 billion.
After graduate school, he served as programme director for Uganda’s New Rice for Africa (NERICA) project supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization, helping introduce new rice varieties across the country.
In August 2010, he was appointed National Programme Coordinator for the EU-funded Northern Uganda Agriculture Livelihoods Recovery Programme (ALREP – €20 million) and the Karamoja Livelihoods Programme (KALIP – €15 million) under the Office of the Prime Minister.
Leadership at UCDA
Dr Iyamulemye was first appointed Executive Director of UCDA in 2016, earning high praise for expanding Uganda’s footprint in global coffee markets. His contract was renewed in 2021 for another five years following a strong performance review.
He served until the government initiated the process to mainstream UCDA into the Ministry of Agriculture in 2023–2024, after which he exited the authority.
Colleagues across the agricultural sector have described him as a principled scientist, strategic thinker and a driving force behind Uganda’s push for higher global recognition of its Robusta coffee.
Dr Iyamulemye’s legacy remains firmly tied to Uganda’s rising coffee reputation, improved farmer incomes and expanded export markets.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
