Equity Bank Uganda is exploring a financing partnership with Zigoti Coffee Works Limited as the coffee company seeks to expand production, improve processing and connect more Ugandan farmers to higher-value coffee markets.
The discussions followed a visit by an Equity Bank delegation to Zigoti’s farm and coffee processing facilities on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, as part of the bank’s 2026 Trade and Investment Roadshow.
The engagement focused on possible financing for coffee-processing equipment, working capital and smallholder farmers, alongside financial literacy and other support aimed at strengthening the coffee value chain.
Zigoti Coffee Works, established in 1984, has grown into an integrated coffee business involved in sourcing, processing, grading, warehousing and exporting coffee.
The company deals in both Robusta and Arabica coffee and has developed markets in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa.
Building a stronger coffee business
Charles Roscoe Nsubuga, Chairman of Zigoti Coffee Works, said the company is looking to move beyond bulk commercial coffee trading and put greater emphasis on quality and specialty coffee.
“If you cut our blood, the DNA is coffee. This is a third-generation coffee business. Our grandparents started with coffee, our parents continued, and now we are taking it to another level,” Nsubuga said.
Zigoti has won the Best Pearl Robusta Award four consecutive times between 2021 and 2024, with its coffee recording cupping scores above 85.
The company is expanding wet processing and experimenting with fermentation and different coffee profiles in an effort to produce coffee that can attract better prices on international markets.
Nsubuga said financing would be important not only for Zigoti’s own expansion but also for farmers who supply the company.
“We are looking beyond one-off asset financing. We want to see how the wider value chain can be financed, including farmers who need inputs to produce quality coffee,” he said.
Under the proposed model, farmers could potentially access between Shs1 million and Shs2 million for agricultural inputs, with repayment linked to proceeds from coffee sales.
Zigoti works with farmer groups, women and youth, providing extension services, financial literacy and training in good agricultural practices.
South Sudan market
The partnership discussions also looked at opportunities to expand Zigoti’s business into regional markets, particularly South Sudan.
Thomas Muto Lo’Buda, Equity Bank’s delegate from South Sudan, said the bank could help connect the Ugandan coffee business to potential buyers and partners in the neighbouring market.
“There is an opportunity to connect this business with markets and partners in South Sudan. We can look at the product, the financing required and how to build a sustainable partnership,” he said.
Zigoti already has buyers and markets in South Sudan, although the company said much of the coffee trade currently moves by road through informal channels.
The company said it sees opportunities to develop more formal distribution and dealership arrangements, including roasting, packaging and private-label coffee.
Focus on quality and traceability
Zigoti operates a 100-acre model farm where farmers receive training, while its processing facilities support quality control and traceability.
The company is also working to meet international traceability requirements, particularly for buyers in Europe.
Nsubuga said access to finance remains one of the challenges facing local coffee exporters, especially when financing coffee stocks and managing price risks while competing with multinational traders.
“We need financial institutions to understand the coffee business and support local exporters. If we can stabilise the business, we can create better returns for farmers and contribute more to the economy,” he said.
Beyond coffee, Zigoti is also exploring ways to turn waste from its operations into additional economic opportunities.
The company has a women-led briquette project and plans to develop a black soldier fly project that would use coffee waste to produce animal feed and organic fertiliser.
Zigoti expects its wet-processing volumes to increase following the installation of new drying equipment.
For Equity Bank, the engagement forms part of its wider efforts to provide financing and financial literacy across agricultural value chains.
Nsubuga said direct engagement between financial institutions and agricultural businesses can help lenders better understand the realities of farming and coffee processing.
“When financial institutions come to the farm, they see the farmers, the gardens and the processing. It gives them a better understanding of the business and the challenges we face,” he said.
