Dfcu Bank Targets Uganda Coffee Farmers with 12% Loans

In Short

Uganda’s coffee farmers are being offered more financing options through dfcu Bank, including a government-backed 12% loan facility, instant mobile loans, and asset financing.

What Happened

dfcu Bank says it is expanding tailored financing for small, medium, and large-scale coffee farmers. The push was shared during a farm tour hosted for over 150 top coffee farmers at JBK Modern Farm in Luwero District on September 5, 2026.

The bank is encouraging farmers to use the Government of Uganda’s Agricultural Credit Facility, a government-backed loan programme offered through participating banks. dfcu said the facility carries a 12% interest rate, and that funds are still available.

For short-term needs, dfcu is also pitching instant mobile loans. It said personal account holders can access up to Shs2 million if they have banked with dfcu for at least six months. For business customers, dfcu pointed to its Maali loan, which can offer up to Shs200 million as an unsecured loan, meaning it does not require collateral like land titles.

On equipment, dfcu said it offers vehicle and asset financing via partnerships with agricultural equipment suppliers. Asset financing is a loan used to buy an item like a pickup, irrigation kit, or processing equipment, and the asset often helps secure the loan.

Separately, dfcu Foundation said it provides free training and market linkage support. It described a “graduation model”, a pre-financing approach that trains farmers to better understand costs, cashflow, and risks before they borrow.

The Foundation also unveiled BeanBook, a market intelligence tool built with Rabo Foundation. It is meant to connect farmers and other buyers and sellers across the coffee value chain, and help users track prices and forecast returns.

Why It Matters

Coffee farming is capital intensive, with recurring costs for fertiliser, pesticides, labour, and equipment. Lower-cost credit, faster emergency loans, and tools that improve market visibility can reduce timing gaps that often force farmers into expensive informal borrowing.

If BeanBook adoption grows, it could also improve price transparency and planning for coffee farmers, aggregators, processors, traders, and exporters, which matters for farm income stability and loan repayment.