As we get closer to the December 2 Beyco V-Auction, we continue introducing the Ugandan cooperatives behind the coffees featured in the auction. This week, we head to the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains to meet Rwenzori Organic Farmers Mountain Harvest Cooperative Society, better known as ROCS, a young cooperative working to connect smallholder farmers to specialty coffee markets.
Established in 2020 by farmers looking to improve coffee quality and access better markets, ROCS has grown to 1,025 members. The cooperative is now focused on building the capacity and infrastructure needed to take the next step in its development.
Its ambitions are clear. By 2028, ROCS aims to grow its membership to 2,000 farmers and expand its network of coffee processing nano stations from three to ten. It is also working to strengthen savings initiatives, improve governance and explore opportunities to connect coffee production with tourism in the Rwenzori region.
Much of this development is driven by a young management team led by Alfred Kule. With limited financial resources, some team members have been contributing their time voluntarily as the cooperative works to establish its business and strengthen its operations.
ROCS has already started making its way into export markets. In 2025, the cooperative exported two containers through third-party exporters and sold another three locally. While it has the capacity to handle up to ten containers annually, access to trade finance and obtaining its own export licence remain important challenges.
Building on this experience, ROCS is now working towards a stronger and more independent position in the coffee market. Improving its capacity to export directly would help the cooperative establish closer connections with international buyers and ensure that more value reaches the farmers behind the coffee.
The cooperative’s coffees reflect their high-altitude origin in the Rwenzori Mountains, a region known for bright acidity, fruity flavours and lingering sweetness.
Quality. Ambition. Community.
The coffee you are tasting comes from a young cooperative of more than 1,000 farmers in the Rwenzori Mountains, building its export capacity and working to create better opportunities for its members. Discover ROCS coffee at the Beyco V-Auction on December 2, alongside coffees from other participating Ugandan cooperatives.
