Makerere recognises coffee research institute for championing youth innovation, coffee entrepreneurship

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Makerere University has recognised the National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) for its outstanding support toward student entrepreneurship and innovation.

The recognition came during the Uganda Entrepreneurship Congress and Youth Expo 2025 held at Makerere University, where NaCORI received an award for its continued partnership in nurturing young innovators and promoting value addition in the coffee value chain.

Makerere University College of Business and Management Sciences and Director Entrepreneurship and Outreach Centre, lecturer Dr Sarah Bimbona, commended NaCORI for its unwavering commitment to empowering students.

She said the partnership has become a model for how research institutions can bridge the gap between science, innovation, and enterprise.

“NaCORI’s involvement has transformed how our students think about business. They don’t just stop at innovation; they are learning how to turn ideas into viable commercial products. NaCORI’s approach to integrating agriculture, research and entrepreneurship is something we deeply value at Makerere,” Bimbona said.

The recognition followed NaCORI’s participation in the entrepreneurship conference held earlier this year, where the institute sponsored the event and presented an interactive “coffee experience.” The experience showcased the versatility of coffee beyond the traditional cup, from cosmetics and haircare products to yogurt and energy bars.

The future of sustainable entrepreneurship

NaCORI executive director Dr Geoffrey Arinaitwe expressed gratitude for the award and reaffirmed the institute’s dedication to supporting Uganda’s youth and universities.

“We are humbled by this recognition. NaCORI believes that empowering students to innovate within the coffee value chain is the future of sustainable entrepreneurship in Uganda. We will continue to support initiatives that link research, value addition, and market-ready products,” Arinaitwe said.

NaCORI has positioned itself in market-oriented research in both the coffee and cocoa sub-sectors through collaborations with universities like Makerere, Kyambogo, and Makerere University Business School, which has strengthened innovation, product development and commercialisation.

Through these partnerships, the institute provides technical and financial support to student projects, enabling them to explore the full potential of coffee as a resource for business and creativity.

One of NaCORI’s initiatives has been the introduction of coffee-based cosmetics, including lotions, lip balms, and creams, as well as coffee-flavoured yoghurts.

The institute’s researchers are studying the potential of coffee compounds in promoting hair follicle growth, aiming to create haircare solutions that could help patients recovering from cancer treatment and individuals who suffer from hair loss.

Arinaitwe said NaCORI’s next step is to formalise a long-term partnership with Makerere University through a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which is expected to foster entrepreneurship and coffee-based innovations among students and young researchers.

“Our goal is to create a new generation of coffee entrepreneurs. We want students to see coffee not just as a crop, but as a source of diverse opportunities in beauty, sports, tourism, and technology”, he said.

The institute’s involvement in youth-centred entrepreneurship also aligns with Uganda’s growing coffee sector, which has expanded from producing three million to nearly seven million bags annually.

“The coffee value chain can absorb many of Uganda’s unemployed youth if we make it modern, attractive, and profitable,” Arinaitwe observed.

Beyond innovation, NaCORI is working to make coffee farming more sustainable. Its agroforestry model integrates coffee with specialised trees that provide shade, improve rainfall patterns, and retain soil moisture.

Technologies such as biochar, hydrogel and manioc planting are being used to enhance soil fertility and moisture retention, ensuring farmers can grow high-quality coffee even without irrigation.