What Every Uganda Coffee Supply Chain Actor needs to Prepare for EUDR 

Uganda coffee is subject to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which requires proof that it was not grown on deforested land after December 31, 2020. 

Exporters and traders must provide geolocation data, verify land legality, and submit a Due Diligence Statement (DDS) to access the EU market. 

Digital traceability tools are essential to help Uganda coffee supply chains comply efficiently. 

Much of Uganda’s coffee comes from smallholder farmers and cooperatives with limited digital infrastructure, informal land records, and paper-based systems. Without rapid digitization and supply chain coordination, even compliant growers risk being left behind. 

But there’s a solution: digital traceability tools that simplify EUDR compliance by helping you map farms, validate supplier data, and auto-generate DDS reports—at scale and without the paperwork chaos. 

Key Takeaways 

Uganda coffee is directly regulated under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which requires all supply chain actors—from smallholder farmers to exporters—to prove that coffee is deforestation-free, legally sourced, and traceable to the exact farm plot. Non-compliance risks include shipment rejection, trade disruption, and exclusion from the EU market. To comply, actors must collect GPS-based geolocation polygons, verify land and labor legality, digitize farmer profiles, ensure end-to-end traceability, and generate Due Diligence Statements (DDS). TraceX simplifies this complex process with mobile-first farm mapping, automated DDS generation, real-time compliance alerts, and blockchain-backed traceability—empowering Uganda stakeholders to meet EUDR standards while protecting livelihoods and access to the EU coffee market.

What the EUDR Means for Uganda Coffee 

Uganda’s coffee trade with the EU is both large and strategically significant, making EUDR compliance critical: 

• Europe remains Uganda’s dominant export market, accounting for approximately 72% of total coffee exports, which equates to around 193,000 metric tons in 2023 and rising to an estimated 6.5 million 60kg bags (about 390,000 tons) forecasted for 2025/26  

• Coffee ranks as Uganda’s top agricultural export, representing around 17–22% of national export revenues, totaling nearly US $1 billion annually . 

Why EUDR Compliance Matters for Uganda 

1. Risk of Market Lockout 
   Nearly three-quarters of Uganda coffee heads to the EU. Non-compliant shipments—lacking geolocation, legality proof, or a DDS—risk rejection at EU entry, sidelining entire harvests from the world’s largest market. 

2. Protecting Economic Impact 
   With coffee contributing roughly 17–22% of export revenue, any EUDR-related disruption could jeopardize livelihoods for nearly 1.8 million smallholder farmers and significantly impact the national  

3. Uganda’s Classification: ‘Standard Risk’ 
   The EU’s latest country benchmarking system (as part of EUDR) has classified Uganda as a “standard risk” country—meaning exporters must carry out full due diligence. This includes: 

• Geolocation of every plot 

• Proof of legality for land and labor 

• A detailed, verifiable DDS before shipment 

This classification puts Uganda in a more demanding compliance category compared to “low-risk” nations, making digital traceability and documentation non-negotiable for EU access.

EUDR’s Three Non-Negotiables for Coffee 

• Deforestation-free sourcing (post-2020 cut-off) 
  Your coffee plots must show zero forest loss after 31 December 2020, verifiable via satellite layers such as Sentinel-2 or GLAD. 

• Legality of land use & labor 
  Farms need documented land titles or lease agreements and compliance with Uganda labor laws—no informal tenure, no unverified contracts. 

• Verified geolocation + a Due Diligence Statement (DDS) 
  Each shipment must include precise GPS polygons (or points for plots < 4 ha) and a filed DDS that customs can audit for five years. 

Why Uganda Sits Under the Compliance Microscope 

• Export Volume – Uganda ships hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Arabica and Robusta to EU buyers each year, making it a high-impact test case for Brussels. 

• Smallholder Dominance – Roughly 90 % of beans come from small farms where paper logbooks and verbal land boundaries are still common. 

• Limited Digitization – Co-ops often operate with notebooks and WhatsApp, leaving huge data gaps that could stall containers at EU ports. 

EUDR isn’t a barrier; it’s a brand accelerator. Uganda exporters who digitize first can command price premiums from EU roasters desperate for compliant, single-origin beans. Think of traceability as a “digital terroir”—it not only answers the regulator’s questions but also gives specialty buyers a story they can sell on the shelf. 

By moving fast on geolocation and legality proof, Uganda can transform compliance pressure into a value-added narrative: climate-smart, smallholder-empowered, and deforestation-free coffee that stands out in an increasingly regulated marketplace. 

Explore More on EUDR Compliance for Uganda Coffee 

Want to understand how EUDR impacts Uganda’s coffee exports and what risk classification means for your business? 

Read Now: 

• What the EU Deforestation Regulation Means for Uganda Coffee 

• Country Risk Classifications Explained Under EUDR 

Who Must Comply—and What’s at Stake for Uganda Coffee? 

Under the EUDR, responsibility flows with the product. Any entity that touches Uganda coffee before it reaches an EU shelf must either file—or be able to prove—the due-diligence behind every bean. 

Operators – Uganda-Side Exporters, Aggregators, and Processors 

These are the first actors placing coffee on the EU market. They must: 

• Gather plot-level geolocation and legality documents from farmers. 

• Run risk checks and file a Due Diligence Statement (DDS) for every shipment. 

• Keep evidence on file for five years in case an EU authority asks for it. 

“When I’m an exporter, I need a tool that digitises farmer data and auto-builds a DDS so my container clears customs the first time.” 

Traceability feature match: mobile polygon capture, bulk document upload, one-click DDS generator. 

Traders – EU-Based Importers, Roasters, and Resellers 

While traders can rely on the upstream DDS, blind trust is a gamble. They must: 

• Verify that the operator’s DDS is valid and complete. 

• Retain all supplier evidence in an audit-ready system. 

• Field questions from regulators or retailers about sourcing risk. 

“When I’m a roaster, I need instant visibility into supplier risk so I don’t roast beans that will be pulled from shelves later.” 

Traceability feature match: shared dashboards, supplier risk scores, expiry alerts. 

Risks of Non-Compliance 

• Shipment rejection: A single missing polygon can send a full container back to Mombasa. 

• Reputational damage: EU retailers drop suppliers linked to deforestation far faster than they hire them. 

• Financial penalties: Fines scale with volume and intent; repeat offenders risk import bans. 

Uganda: A “Standard-Risk” Origin 

The EU’s country benchmarking has listed Uganda as standard risk. That means European customs will expect full due diligence on every lot, not the lighter “simplified” route. 

Standard risk isn’t a disadvantage; it’s an invitation for Uganda exporters to out-perform competitors by getting digital first. Those who master traceability now will own shelf space when enforcement tightens. 

5 Things Every Supply Chain Actor Must Prepare for EUDR Compliance – Explained 

1. Collect Plot-Level Geolocation Data 

For every farmer or cooperative contributing to a coffee lot, you must collect precise geolocation data—not just the district or region, but the actual GPS polygons that mark the farm boundaries. 

• EUDR requires this level of detail to check for deforestation using satellite imagery (e.g., Sentinel-2, GLAD alerts). 

• Plots smaller than 4 hectares can use single-point coordinates, but anything above that must be polygon-mapped. 

• Use mobile mapping tools or satellite overlays to capture boundaries directly in the field—especially critical for Uganda, where formal cadastral maps are rare. 

2️. Verify Legality of Land & Labor 

You must demonstrate that coffee was grown on legally acquired land and that labor practices follow national laws and international standards. 

• Collect title deeds, lease agreements, or communal consent documents as applicable. 

• Include farmer group registration, cooperative bylaws, or local authority approvals. 

• Labor verification may include contracts, wage documentation, or statements on child labor prevention. 

3️. Digital Supplier Profiling 

Traceability starts with knowing who is producing the coffee, where, and under what conditions. This means building detailed digital profiles for every producer, cooperative, and aggregator. 

• Record producer identity, land size, location, and crop type. 

• Capture crop history, planting year, expected yield, and processing method. 

• Link each profile to mapped plots, uploaded documents, and certifications. 

4️. Audit Supply Chain Traceability 

EUDR doesn’t stop at the farm. You must show how the beans move from farm to warehouse to export—without mixing or losing identity. 

• Trace every lot through aggregation, processing, dry milling, and shipping. 

• Validate chain of custody: which aggregator collected it, when it entered the dry mill, and who processed or bagged it for export. 

• Maintain batch-level records that link back to original plot data. 

5️. Generate & Submit the Due Diligence Statement (DDS) 

The DDS is your official declaration that every product entering the EU market is deforestation-free and legally produced. This is the core compliance document required under EUDR. 

• Include all geolocation data, supplier IDs, land legality documents, and risk analysis. 

• Update DDS for every new shipment, especially if supplier details, plots, or volumes change. 

• The operator (usually the exporter) is responsible for submission—but traders must keep copies and confirm authenticity. 

Compliance Is a Competitive Advantage 

Those who digitize their supplier network now will not only meet EUDR standards—they’ll win faster buyer trust, better prices, and long-term market access. 

If you’re in the business of Uganda coffee, these five actions aren’t optional—they’re the foundation of a resilient, future-ready supply chain. 

How Digital Traceability Simplifies EUDR Compliance for Uganda Coffee 

Uganda’s coffee sector is facing a regulatory turning point. With the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in effect, exporters, cooperatives, and buyers can no longer rely on paper-based sourcing logs or informal land records. Digital traceability is no longer a bonus—it’s the backbone of EUDR compliance. 

Here’s how digital traceability tools—like TraceX—help Uganda’s coffee supply chain meet the regulation’s demands efficiently, accurately, and at scale. TraceX steps in as a digital backbone that connects farmers, cooperatives, exporters, and international buyers with the tools they need to meet these new standards—seamlessly and at scale. 

Map Farmers and Co-Ops with Geolocation Tools 

The EUDR requires that every lot of coffee be traceable back to the exact piece of land it was grown on. 

• Digital traceability platforms enable field officers to capture farm polygons on mobile devices, even offline. 

• Once synced, those geolocation files are stored securely and can be overlaid with satellite imagery (e.g., Sentinel-2, GLAD alerts) to validate that no deforestation has occurred post-2020. 

• This eliminates the need for guesswork, manual drawings, or paper maps—giving you instant audit readiness. 

See how digital farm mapping is helping Nigerian cocoa exporters meet EUDR and sustainability goals—while building trust with buyers. 

Read the full case study  

Digitize and Centralize Farmer Data, Land Legality, and Certifications 

EUDR isn’t just about location—it’s about proof. Exporters must show that coffee is grown on legal land and under compliant labor conditions. 

• A digital system lets you upload, tag, and track documents like land titles, lease agreements, and group certifications. 

• You can also log producer names, lot sizes, farm types, crop history, and more—ensuring each producer has a complete digital profile. 

• No more filing cabinets, no more chasing WhatsApp images during audit season. 

In a complex sourcing network  a Nigerian trading company manages cocoa procurement from 5,000–8,000 farmers through a layered hierarchy of field agents, data supervisors, LBAs, and main stores — maintaining data accuracy, security, and operational efficiency is extremely challenging. That’s where a Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) feature becomes essential. 

RBAC is a digital traceability feature that assigns permissions and platform access based on a user’s role in the supply chain. Instead of giving everyone access to all information, users only see and act on data relevant to their responsibilities. 

Auto-Generate DDS & Flag Documentation Gaps 

Filing the Due Diligence Statement (DDS) is one of the most critical steps in EUDR compliance—and also one of the most prone to human error. 

• With digital traceability, the system pulls verified data from each mapped plot and supplier record to auto-generate a compliant DDS in XML or JSON format. 

• If any data is missing—like an expired certificate, an unverified plot, or a supplier with no risk score—the system flags it in real time. 

• This prevents last-minute delays and reduces the risk of non-compliant exports being rejected at EU borders.

Maintain a Real-Time Audit Trail from Farm to Buyer 

The EUDR requires you to retain records for five years and show a clean audit trail from the moment a cherry is harvested to the point the green beans enter the EU. 

• A digital system logs every action—farmer onboarding, data updates, plot uploads, shipment creation—with a time-stamped digital audit trail. 

• This makes it easy to respond to EU authorities, buyers, or certification bodies without scrambling through paperwork. 

• You don’t just say you’re compliant—you show the full digital proof. 

Collaboration Across Exporters, Co-Ops, and EU Importers 

TraceX enables multi-party collaboration through shared dashboards and access-controlled workflows. 

Exporters, aggregators, processors, and EU-based traders can all interact with the same source of data—no email threads, no version chaos. 

Getting EUDR-Ready: Act Now, Trade Without Disruption 

EUDR compliance isn’t optional—it’s the new baseline for access to the EU coffee market. For Uganda, where millions depend on smallholder coffee exports, failing to prepare could mean shipment rejections, lost income, and reputational damage. But the good news? With digital tools for farm mapping, legality checks, and DDS generation, producers, aggregators, and exporters can achieve compliance faster and with more confidence. Don’t wait for audits or bottlenecks—start building a traceable, deforestation-free coffee supply chain today.

Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQ’s )

Deepen Your EUDR Compliance Knowledge 

Looking to master every step of the EUDR journey—from onboarding smallholder suppliers to filing Due Diligence Statements (DDS)? 

Explore these expert resources: 

EUDR Due Diligence: What You Need to Know 

How to File a DDS for EUDR Compliance 

Conducting Compliance Risk Assessments Under EUDR 

Onboarding Smallholder Suppliers for EUDR Compliance