Darley Investments Ltd, Uganda

Darley Investments is a Uganda-based green coffee processor and exporter estab­lished in 2017, specializing in commercial Robusta (80%) and both commercial and specialty Arabica coffee (20%). Building on a family business legacy dating back to the 1980s in sectors such as petroleum, agriculture, and fishing, Ali Thobani revived the company’s coffee operations in 2016 after they had ceased in 1995. Today, Darley exports coffee to trading houses and roasters across the US, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and South Africa.

Operating through a business-to-business (B2B) model, the company sources, processes, and exports high-quality coffee beans for premium international mar­kets, particularly in the European Union and North America. This has established Darley Investments as one of Uganda’s leading coffee traders and a trusted market partner. The company is now transitioning from sourcing through intermediar­ies to direct engagement with certified smallholder farmers through its Specialty Arabica Mission Coffee Economy Programme (SMACE), aiming to expand specialty Arabica production, improve coffee quality, increase company margins, and enhance farmer incomes.