Espresso, marshes and dances – AHA’s partnerships in Uganda under the microscope

The five-person team consisting of AHA, GIZ, external experts and Ashraf – the world’s best helmsman – begins their journey in Kampala. Initial meetings with long-standing friends of the Akademie, such as the national farmers’ association (UNFFE) and the Ugandan Young Farmers’ Association (UNYFA) clearly show that the AHA moderates, trains and coaches, but it’s the partners who call the shots!

After a day on the road, the team reaches Western Uganda. Subsequently, there will be a visit to and interviews with members of farmers’ associations, but also a detour to the Ankole Coffee Producers Co-operative Union Ltd. Evidence on “sleeping members” is interesting, but the highlight is the espresso made from 100% Robusta beans. With a high dose of caffeine in his veins, Ashraf steers the small coach through marshland and is navigated to Stema Farm by a local farmer who kindly becomes a member of the test team for a short time. Its manager took part in the German-Ugandan internship exchange programme as host company and intern. He shares his experiences in Germany and with German interns.

Towards evening, we head north, while the sun sets behind Queen Elizabeth National Park in the west. Between Lake Edward and Lake George, the team spends a night among roaming elephants and waterbucks. The next day, an employee of the Bukonzo Joint Cooperative Union is picked up at a rest stop and navigates Ashraf to the Rwenzori Mountains – where members grow the precious coffee. In group discussions, which are regularly enhanced by dancing and singing interludes, the topic of member marketing plays a particularly important part, i.e. how Bukonzo Joint can increase member loyalty and attract new members.

The next day comprises the return journey to Kampala, 400 km away. After briefly recharging their batteries, many partners are invited back. It is important for the team to discuss findings with the partners – have the right conclusions been drawn? Do partners share the same views? Which points need to be assessed differently?

After eight days, it’s back to the airport. Not only do the bags contain dirty laundry and coffee, but also a mountain of findings that now need to be processed.