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ABOUT US

Gorilla Highlands Coffee 

Protecting Mountain Gorillas, Supporting Family-owned Farms, Growing the Best Organic Coffee and delivering Beyond Direct Trade prices.

Our coffee

Gorilla Highlands Coffee is based in the equatorial Kigezi Province in southwestern Uganda. In this lush land of clear lakes, densely forested islands and mist-shrouded mountains, we grow primarily Arabica Bourbon beans that have a cupping value of 85.4.


Growing at an altitude of 1500 to 2500 metres provides the perfect temperature and humidity for coffee of exquisite texture and flavour - a great combination of aroma and aftertaste that results in one of the most appreciated coffee bouquets. 


We also offer a unique Highlands Robusta coffee - a variety endemic to the Kigezi region, a gift from the Gorilla Highlands Kingdom that is majestic, smooth and strong, just like the silverback gorillas that live in this region.


This coffee has an exclusive season and is available in small quantities from January to April.


Our commitment at GHC is to ensure that economic benefits are balanced with the social and environmental impacts that GHC has on the lives of our farmers, their families, and our shared habitats and environment. 

Access to health care

Our Kawacare health project was launched in early 2020 to help address the growing concerns of hypertension, diabetes, and maternal health in coffee-producing communities.

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Education & well-being

UNESCO estimates the country's primary school dropout rate at more than 68%. Most families in rural Uganda do not have the means to pay for school supplies, uniforms, and fees for all their children.

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Empowerment & Conservation

Encouraging former poachers to pursue alternative livelihoods by becoming hikers and protectors of mountain gorillas.

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Empowering rural women

Empowering rural women through micro-credit opportunities and advanced training in tailoring and the fashion industry through our House of Bwindi project.

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Exquisite Kigezi coffee ensuring a future for our Mountain Gorillas

OUR COFFEE

Our story is that of a farming collective with 1500 members and 60% women, where our coffee is grown in mixed crops - part of our sustainability and farm management programme.


Food crops such as beans, maize, bananas, and avocados are grown for subsistence, allowing our farmers to maintain local food security while earning additional income from coffee production. Planting Ficus natalensis is an important part of our drought management, as it stores water during the rainy season and releases it during drought.


It also provides fibre that can be used to make clothing, is an excellent habitat for beehives, and has medicinal properties as well. Bamboo provides building materials for farms. These mixed crops also provide the shade that ensures sustainable coffee production.

Empowering local farmers

Our priorities are ensuring our farmers have access to health care through our Kawacare project, ensuring their children have access to education through our School Coffee Clubs, improving the well-being of our youth through participation in inter-regional and international sporting events.

POACHING : TURNING POACHERS INTO ECO-HEROES

 We encourage former poachers to pursue alternative livelihoods by becoming hikers and protectors of mountain gorillas, and empowering rural women through micro-credit opportunities and advanced training in tailoring and the fashion industry through our House of Bwindi project. 

Our partnership with Noble Gorilla Foundation will help us achieve these goals.

GORILLA HIGHLANDS PROJECTS

Our commitment at GHC is to ensure that economic benefits are balanced with the social and environmental impacts that GHC has on the lives of our farmers, their families, and our shared habitats and environment.

Climate Change and the Future of Kigezi's Gorillas

By Tumelo Ncube • November 30, 2022
The Kigezi Gorillas are an endangered species. There are three types of gorillas that live in the area: mountain gorillas, eastern lowland gorillas, and western lowland gorillas.

School Coffee Club program

By Tumelo Ncube • September 30, 2022
We believe that coffee is a powerful tool for social change. This is why we are committed to helping children in rural Uganda gain access to education through our school coffee clubs.

School Coffee Clubs : Sports Program

By Tumelo Ncube • September 30, 2022
We are committed to helping children in rural Uganda gain access to education through our school coffee clubs.
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THE TEAM

We make magic

happen every day

Richard Rugaya

Founder and President

Claudine Kampire

Head of Sales and Mobility

Birungi Maria

House of Bwindi Project Coordinator
More about us

Exquisite Kigezi coffee ensuring a future for our Mountain Gorillas

 We are privileged to be in the world's best location to view the majestic and highly endangered mountain gorilla. Previously, poaching and habitat destruction, both caused by poverty, were the main causes of these animals' extinction. Gorilla Highlands Coffee has been instrumental in reversing the decline.


The people who previously depended on poaching and harvesting crops and materials from the gorilla forests are now our farmers. As a result, the number of gorillas has increased from 800 to 1200 (2019 gorilla census), tourism has increased, and the relationship between wildlife and the community is stronger than ever - all thanks to our coffee!

Our commitment at GHC is to ensure that economic benefits are balanced with the social and environmental impacts that GHC has on the lives of our farmers, their families, and our shared habitats and environment. 

Enjoy Our Strong & Smooth Coffees That Help to Conserve Nature

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