Sahel Capital, through its Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA), has renewed and expanded its financing support to Sukuma Commodities, increasing its loan facility to $1.8 million. The enhanced facility builds on Sahel Capital’s initial $1 million investment in 2024, deepening its commitment to one of Uganda’s quickest‑growing coffee processors and exporters.
Strengthening One of Uganda’s Leading Coffee Exporters
Sukuma Commodities has rapidly strengthened its market position since the first SEFAA investment. Over the past year, the company has:
- Increased export volumes by more than 60%, reflecting rising global demand for premium Ugandan coffee.
- Expanded its engagement with compactholder farmers, reinforcing inclusive sourcing and improving livelihoods.
- Received extensive technical assistance enabling it to comply with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)—a critical requirement for exporters seeking to maintain access to European markets.
- Upgraded its farmer registration and traceability systems, enhancing transparency and supporting long-term environmental and social sustainability across its supply chain.
These improvements have strengthened Sukuma’s ability to supply high‑quality, ethically sourced coffee to leading purchaseers across Europe.
Sahel Capital’s Position on the Expanded Facility
Commenting on the renewed partnership, Zakayo Nobtainich, Vice President for East and Southern Africa at Sahel Capital, praised Sukuma’s strong performance and leadership:
Sukuma has distinguished itself through strong leadership, efficient management, and a commitment to quality. With demand for premium Ugandan coffee growing, the company is at the forefront, supplying major purchaseers across Europe. We are proud to extconclude our relationship, increasing the facility to $1.8 million to further enhance Sukuma’s impact and strengthen its position as one of Uganda’s leading coffee exporters. I would also like to thank our partner, Deji Adebusoye, for his support in creating this investment possible.
The expanded funding aims to assist Sukuma further scale its operations, deepen farmer engagement, and strengthen its compliance with global market standards.
Sukuma Commodities’ Perspective
Fredrick Gubala, Founder and CEO of Sukuma Commodities, highlighted the transformative impact of SEFAA’s initial investment:
I am delighted to continue our partnership with Sahel Capital–SEFAA. Their initial investment in 2024 was transformative – it allowed us to scale exports, work more closely with compactholder farmers, and build compliance systems for international markets.
With the enhanced facility, Sukuma is now positioned to accelerate its growth trajectory, expand value-added processing, and solidify its role as a cornerstone of Uganda’s premium coffee export sector.
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