Omwani started in 2018 in Uganda, founded by two university friends, James and Dale. Before that, James had spent three years in the Rwenzori region helping to build Agri Evolve, now a globally recognised Ugandan coffee exporter. When he decided to move back to the UK, he wanted to stay involved in Ugandan coffee—so he and Dale set up Omwani.

At first, the focus was purely on exporting Ugandan coffee. But as Omwani’s reputation grew, producers from neighbouring countries started reaching out, asking for the same kind of support. That’s when Omwani expanded its work across East Africa, building relationships and supporting producers beyond Uganda.

By 2021, the company had set up its first office and grown its team, strengthening its role in the region and its commitment to fair, transparent coffee trade.

Omwani is built on transparency, fairness, quality, and honesty. They believe in open and straightforward trade, sharing information clearly and expecting the same from their partners. Fairness is central to their approach—they carefully consider every decision to ensure integrity and equality across the supply chain, always striving to improve.

For Omwani, quality goes beyond cup score. They assess coffee on its flavour, profile, economic impact, and the story behind it. Honesty is fundamental to how they operate. There are no half-truths or unnecessary complexities—just clear, truthful communication that ensures everyone is fully informed.

Omwani offers three main ways to purchase coffee: Landed and Reservations, as well as a Direct Sourcing option for larger buyers.

• Landed coffees are in stock and available for immediate purchase. These coffees are stored in their warehouse, ready to ship with flexible buying terms and no commitment. This is a great option if you need coffee quickly or want to try something new.
• Reservations allow you to secure coffee before it arrives, ensuring supply and better supporting producers. By committing early, buyers get first access to pre-shipment samples, flexible payment terms, and priority distribution.
• Direct Sourcing is designed for those looking to build long-term relationships with producers. Starting from 5 metric tonnes, this option offers full transparency, price guarantees, and tailored support, including visits to producers and supply chain coordination.