We've got a delicious new, organic coffee from Uganda.
In 2015, Kawacom expanded their mill operations and started the White Nile wet mill in the Zombo district of Mt. Elgon. The Nebbi White Nile Mill, established by in the highlands of northwest Uganda in 2015, was named after the river pushing north through the plains and serves 6,000 farmers in the West Nile and Murchison Falls coffee region. Prior to this, much of the smallholder coffee grown in the region was processed by small crank pulpers and dried on garden matts. The transition to fully-washed processing at this fully-equipped centralized mill, combined with quality-focused agronomic training for farmers, has increased the quality of coffee throughout the region dramatically, with cupping scores improving 4 -14 points.
The washed process is the predominant process within the mill, but they also experiment in natural processed coffees of all qualities. Producers nearby the wet mill will deliver their cherry which is than meticulously sorted for imperfections and floated for density separations removing the lower dense/less quality cherry.
A push for mainstreaming of gender projects in the region has resulted in the beginnings of women gaining greater social status and being included in decision-making. A new self-sustaining Village Savings and Loan Association polls community funds to provide micro-loans for school, land purchases, and construction. The Nebbi Mill also provides clean tap water to the local community at no cost. Through a community nursery, farmers have access not only to coffee seedlings but food crops as well. An additional benefit to the community has been job creation, including mill attendants, nursery workers, inspectors, and field supervisors.