Early life
I grew up on a coffee farm, in the hands of my grandmother Ms. Deborah Nabatanzi after receiving me from my parents at the age of one. So, I would be fortunate to rise-up on relatively small cottage enterprise holding ranging in 150 – 400 coffee tree Plot-Farm of Robustas in central Uganda.
At the age of four, I would introduce myself to coffee. I got around the coffee flower, smelt the pollen, teased the bees, and they also stung me. I licked the sugary mucilage in the cherry pulp. I also loved to harvest the cherry with my grandmother, although she never accepted. And this provoked me and one afternoon, I would go to the shamba not letting her know and I harvested. I stripped her coffee, both the ripe and the unripe cherries, swung on the coffee stems, and broke some. She learnt about it in pain, she accused me and beat me a little bit and properly.
In later years, I would contribute to the family labor in the harvest seasons. She would reward me thirty pounds (30lbs.) of dry cherry for the labor I gave. She would sell it and hand me the proceeds for my pocket money at the boarding school I went to.
Nowadays, when I look back, I see the loss I caused to her little Robusta enterprise although not in vain. I salute her. And, I extend my glowing tribute to her for the reasons I legislate.
- For her being a part of the 20th century global coffee sustainability nexus.
- For the environment she created that gave me the chance to enroll myself in coffee at age of four while residing at her farm.
- The irrefutable theses for which I founded the Africa Coffee Bureau (ACB) on January 07, 2017 at Washington D.C, United States.
I salute her.
Intellectual Awareness
Interested in the role of sucrose synthase enzyme in the architectural construct of the coffee bean “sucrose accumulation”, a trait so significant in unleashing flavors and aromas during Maillard reaction at roasting that impact the final cup profile.
Training
Possess a Biomedical Laboratory Technology Degree (Hons) of Makerere University.
Internship: Interned at the department of parasitology and microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere; on immunological studies investigating the role of trypanosoma skeletal muscle derived tubulin protein, on inhibiting the protozoa activity in bovine bloodstream “recognizing self from non-self”. These trials were towards vaccine design against the protozoa.
Undergraduate Special Project: Peroxidase Activity as a biochemical marker for resistance to coffee wilt disease in Robusta coffees in Uganda. Coffea canephora variants J/1/1 and Q/3/4 predicted with superb resistance against Fusarium xylariodes (prospective resistant varieties).
Proceedings of ASIC Conferences:
Nakendo, S*., Lubega, G. W., Kangire, A and P. C. Musoli. (2008). Peroxidase Activity as a biochemical marker for resistance to coffee wilt disease in C. canephora. Paper presented and published to the 22nd International Scientific Colloquium on Coffee, Campinas, SP-Brazil
Specialized training in near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and chromatography at CIRAD, Montpellier – France.
Determined the flavor and aroma quality precursor profiles for Uganda Robusta Germplasm collections established at National Coffee Research Institute/NARO (Kituza Research Station). Training funded by USDA/Cirad Project on Robusta Quality Markers in East Africa.
Achievements:
- Determined the NIRS – Spectra specific to Uganda Robustas. The information is vital in distinguishing Uganda Robusta coffees from other collections elsewhere in the world (defeating adulteration in commodity origin and quality grading in global coffee order).
- Assembled background opinions and literature to initiate biochemical studies on flavor and aroma precursor trait science for mass screening for superior bean and cup quality profiles; knowledge necessary for breeders use in commercial varietal development process.
- Profiled 68 Uganda Robusta Germplasm collections for flavor and aroma quality precursors, data necessary for breeders’ choice in varietal development and improvement.
Higher Training
MSc. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (2009): Admitted to postgraduate at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University. Training intercepted by adjustments in funding priorities by the sponsor.
MSc. Biochemistry (2012): Admitted to postgraduate at the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University. Research title: Sucrose synthase activity as a biochemical marker for bean sucrose accumulation in vascular wilt resistant Robusta variants in Uganda. Partial training funds given by Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) that supported course work. The thesis research component lacked budget, and some trial objectives were to be completed at Cirad in Montpellier, France.
November 2024: The Daniel K Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center at Hilo in Hawai’i, through interactions at CoFET-Retreat https://www.africacoffeebureau.us/cofet-retreat-oahu-island-hawaii-usa/ is willing to volunteer work space (Labs and assortment) for completion of my thesis component. Regular research updates and reports will be made to Makerere the official accrediting institution. University of Hawai’i and Hawai’i Agricultural Research Center are other contributing supervisory institutions in the Hawai’i trial. Research Title: Sucrose synthase affinity for UDP-Glu and Fructose as a biomarker for carbon fixation in Coffee species: Tracing arabicas with superior cup quality precursors on-farm in Hawaii – USA.
Contribution to Global Coffee Development
National Coffee Improvement in Uganda:
National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) was my host Institution and routine work place. I contributed to search for resistance sources against vascular wilt caused by a fungus of genus Fusarium and species xylariodes in Coffea canephora (Robusta coffee) in Uganda. I carried out mass inoculations through the root system, using pure laboratory cultured fungal pathogen spores of F. xylariodes amounting to 3.6 million counts per mill per individual seedling or nodal cutting (clone) to numerous Robusta genetic resources derived from highly scanty survivor genotypes collected from extremely and severely hit vascular wilt hot spots in Uganda.
Enzyme Bio-makers; I predicted genotypes J/1/1 and Q/3/4 as prospective resistant variants to F. xylariodes using Peroxidase Activity biomarkers. The 2 individuals constituted part of the first 6 coffee wilt disease resistant (cwd-r) varieties released for farmer use in the national replanting program that has seen Uganda improve coffee exports from 3 million (2003) to 8 million 60 kg bags of green bean commensurate to US$1.0Bn by 2024 coffee year.
Post-Harvest Technology; I contributed to the traceability of superior bean and cup quality varieties among C. canephora and C. arabica populations. Evaluated for best-bet post-harvest coffee processing and handling technologies for farmer use in Uganda. This trial objective, materialized into best-bet Pre-harvest/post-harvest handling and storage protocols that farmers use to ensure superior bean and cup quality profile stability conservation, and importantly minimize mold/Ochratoxin (OTA) contamination in coffee grades for public health safety assurance.
Contribution to International Collaborative Projects
Contributed to the Uganda coffee quality mapping funded by USAID-LEAD/IITA Uganda.
Proceedings of ASIC Conferences:
Jassogne, L., Mukasa, D., Nakendo, S., Nansamba, R., Kangire, A and P. Van Asten. (2012). Mapping and characterizing coffee quality in Uganda. Paper presented and published to the 24th International Scientific Colloquium on Coffee, Turrialba, Costa Rica.
Contributed to CAFNET Project which involved countries in East Africa, Central America and India.
The objective I helped in on my Institute’s bigger contribution was assessing the influence of tree shade intensity (Intense, medium, and light) vs. open-sun coffees on yields, insect bean infestation incidence, physical bean, and cup quality traits. Resulting foundation data and reports made up to the cumulative global CAFNET project reports, publication, and policy implementations to-date.
Publications
Journal Articles:
Musoli, C. P., Cilas, C., Pot, D., Nabaggala, A., Nakendo, S., Pande, J., Charrie, A and T. Leroy. (2012). Inheritance of resistance to coffee wilt disease (Fusarium xylarioides Steyaert) in Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora Pierre) and breeding perspectives. Tree Genetics and Genomes. 9 (2): 351-360.
Short Communication:
Nakendo, S., Musoli, C. P., E. Kananura and W. W. Wagoire. (2018). Comparative analysis of processing methods in Robusta coffee in Uganda. Journal of Postharvest Technology. 6(3): 80-82.
Nakendo, S., Musoli, C. P., E. Kananura and W. W. Wagoire. (2016). Effect of Storage on Bean and Cup Qualities in Robusta Coffees under Different Processing Methods. Journal of Postharvest Technology. 4 (4): 072-074.
Papers with Proceedings:
Nakendo, S., Musoli, P., Kananura, E., Wagoire, W., Kangire, A., Kyamuhangire, R., Matovu, R., Rweihangwe, D., Nalukenge, A., Aluka, P and M. Lumu. (2013). Intrinsic bean quality attributes: Profiling Arabica coffee germplasm in Uganda. A paper presented at 11th African Crop Science Conference, 14 – 17 October, 2013. Entebbe, Uganda. (Proceedings of Africa Crop Science Congress).
Matovu, J. R., Kabole, C., Nalukenge, A., Nakendo, S., Phiri, N., Kangire, A and P. C. Musoli. (2013). Resistance to coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix, Berk. and Broome) among Arabica coffee genotypes in Uganda. A paper presented at 11th African Crop Science Conference, 14 – 17 October, 2013. Entebbe, Uganda. (Proceedings of Africa Crop Science Congress).
Kagezi, H. G., Kucel, P., Egonyu, P. J., Nakibuule, L., Kobusinge, J., Ahumuza, G., Matovu, R., Nakendo, S., Luzinda, H., Musoli, C. P., Kangire, A and F. B. Chesang. (2013). Impact and farmers’ coping mechanisms of the Black Coffee Twig Borere, Xylosadrus compactus (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). A paper presented at 11th African Crop Science Conference, 14 – 17 October, 2013. Entebbe, Uganda. (Proceedings of Africa Crop Science Congress).
Jassogne, L., Mukasa, D., Nakendo, S., Nansamba, R., Kangire, A and P. Van Asten. (2012). Mapping and characterizing coffee quality in Uganda. Paper presented and published to the 24th International Scientific Colloquium on Coffee, Turrialba, Costa Rica. (Proceedings of ASIC Conferences).
Nakendo, S., Lubega, G. W., Kangire, A and P. C. Musoli. (2008). Peroxidase Activity as a biochemical marker for resistance to coffee wilt disease in C.canephora. Paper presented and published to the 22nd International Scientific Colloquium on Coffee, Campinas, SP-Brazil. (Proceedings of ASIC Conferences).
Musoli, P., Kangire, A., Leroy, T., Nabaggala, A., Nakendo, S., Olal, S., Ochugo, J., Kabole, C., Pande, J., Cilas, C., Charrier, A., Bieysse, D., Ogwang J. and T. D. Kyetere. (2008). Towards a Variety Resistant to Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD): A Case for Robusta Coffee (Coffea canephora) in Uganda. Paper presented and published to the 22nd International Scientific Colloquium on Coffee, Campinas, SP-Brazil. (Proceedings of ASIC Conferences).
Musoli, P., Aluka, P., Cubry, M., Dufour, F. D., Nakendo, S., Nabaggala, A., Ogwang, J., Kyetere, D., Leroy, T., Bieysse, D and A. Charrier. (2006). Fighting against Coffee Wilt Disease: Uganda wild C.canephora Genetic Diversity and its usefulness. Paper presented and published to the 21st International Scientific Colloquium on Coffee, Montpellier, France. (Proceedings of ASIC Conferences).
at Uganda Embassy, Washington D.C
Promoting African coffees in the United States
Numerous African coffees with remarkably super intrinsic bean and cup qualities remain unknown to industrial consumer markets like United States. These coffees are from micro-producers who bulk together as little as ten pounds (22 kilograms) to consolidate the much-needed global demand volumes usually ranging between 153 – 167 million 60kg bags per year. For Africa, majority of these holdings are women led, ranging in 150 – 400 coffee tree plot-farms. They depend on this coffee for their social security, implying they harvest, store and only sell to obtain food, medical care, and child education. But they often lack reliable and incentive rewarding niche markets. The available market options for a longtime pay only seventy cents of a dollar for a pound of green bean which translates into $60 for roaster’s whole bean on the shelves of major retail stores such as Walmart, Costco or, $240 from serving espressos and cappuccinos in retail structures such as Starbucks in the industrial consumer world. Retail giants cannot be blamed for this, but it is illogical.
Farmers are desperate, demoralized and some are abandoning and cutting down their coffee shambas. This should worry everyone, it’s detrimental; it arouses food insecurity among smallholder growers, it escalates environmental ruin, and probable collapse of the coffee retail businesses both at producer and industrial level. There must be something done very urgently.
The lack of commodity promotional vigor by the African coffee co-operative leaders to trigger attractive responsiveness from industrial markets comparative to the enthusiasm from the Latin grower equivalents like Colombia and Brazil, is one of the key compelling reasons for the founding of the Africa Coffee Bureau (ACB).
ACB positioning in Washington, DC; places it well for long-term uninterrupted routine cup profiling vigor, a necessary step in the traceability efforts for creation of novel niche markets enfranchised with premium incentive rewards, African growers dearly need now. I founded ACB to undertake promotion, niche market traceability and low-cost responsive warehousing for the good of the smallholder coffee farmers; to ensure more African coffee volumes get to the United States niche market structure for the price that means most. The United States retail is a boom, so lucrative and it’s estimated to nearly $100 billion.
I am privileged to be leading an initiative assisting majority of extremely unrecognized or little known small cottage African holdings only defined by their 150 – 400 coffee tree Plot-Farms (really micro-lot coffees), predominantly of whom are women owned, to access premium incentive rewarding niche markets in the United States $48Bn, $26Bn and $14Bn; roasting, coffeehouse retail and at-home brewing segment (SCA report 2018: US Coffee Market Overview), respectively.
I believe ACB formulation in this market is logical and appropriate.
I am thrilled to share my vision for AFRICA.
Saleh Nakendo