On 9th April, 2024, the Rotary Club of Mbarara organized and led an informative vocational tour to Ankole Coffee Producers Cooperative Union (ACPCU LTD) in Sheema Municipality, South Western Uganda.
The tour offered participants a rare, hands-on opportunity to follow the complete post-harvest journey of Uganda’s premium coffee. Under the expert guidance of the ACPCU team, we traced every stage of the process; Receiving fresh ripe cherries from smallholder farmers, Pulping to remove the outer skin, Controlled fermentation to develop rich flavor profiles, Thorough washing, Drying on raised African beds with careful monitoring, Hulling, grading by size and density, and meticulous sorting.
The visit highlighted ACPCU’s state-of-the-art processing plant and its strong emphasis on quality control at every step. As a farmer-owned cooperative, ACPCU demonstrates how value addition along the chain can deliver better returns and improved livelihoods for its members.
Founded in 2006 by 10 primary cooperative societies, ACPCU has grown into a dynamic union comprising 32 primary cooperative societies and serving more than 16,000 smallholder farmers across the Greater Ankole region (including districts such as Bushenyi, Sheema, Ntungamo, Mitooma, and Rubirizi). The union is proudly Fairtrade and Organic certified, bringing together farmers from diverse multi-ethnic communities who work collectively to produce high-quality coffee for international markets.
This vocational tour aligned directly with Rotary’s focus on Vocational Service, providing practical insights into sustainable agriculture, cooperative business models, quality standards, and community empowerment. It deepened our understanding of the expertise and innovation required to transform raw coffee cherries into export-ready beans.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the entire ACPCU team for the warm welcome, professional guidance, and for generously opening their facilities to us. Your passion for quality and farmer empowerment is truly inspiring and sets a strong example for the region. A special thank you to the partner clubs that joined the Rotary Club of Mbarara and made the day even more vibrant and successful: Rotary Club of Mbarara Ranchers, Rotary Club of Kabwohe, Rotaract Club of Mbarara, Rotaract Club of Mbarara City and Rotaract Club of Ankole Western University.
Experiences like this vocational tour remind us of the power of collaboration, lifelong learning, and supporting initiatives that drive sustainable development. The Rotary Club of Mbarara remains committed to fostering meaningful connections and taking informed action in service to our community.
