Overview of LDC in Uganda

Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) is a major global merchant and processor of agricultural goods. In Uganda, their operations are mainly focused on the coffee sector, including sourcing, processing, exporting, and sustainability initiatives.

Operations in Uganda

Entity and Location: LDC operates under the name Louis Dreyfus Company Uganda Ltd, with its main office in Kampala.

Business Focus: The company is heavily involved in the green coffee trade, sourcing beans from farmers, processing them, and exporting to international markets.

Sustainability Work: LDC runs programs to improve farmer livelihoods, focusing on yield improvement, income growth, food security, and responsible sourcing.

People and Leadership: The Uganda branch has a Commercial Manager & Country Representative overseeing coffee activities, and a sustainability team implementing projects with local farmers.

Trade Role: Uganda’s coffee exports include significant volumes handled by LDC, strengthening the company’s global supply chain while connecting local farmers to international buyers.

Strengths and Impact

Market Access: By being part of a global company, LDC provides Ugandan farmers access to international coffee markets.

Expertise: The company brings in technical know-how on quality standards, traceability, and processing.

Farmer Support: LDC invests in training and sustainability initiatives that support smallholder farmers in improving productivity and resilience.

Gaps / Less Clear Areas

Local Processing Capacity: Public details on how much coffee is processed locally versus exported raw are limited.

Financial Transparency: Specific revenue or investment figures for LDC’s Uganda operations are not widely available.

Farmer Engagement Scale: While they work with smallholders, the exact number of farmers involved and the regional coverage are not clearly disclosed.