Sahel Capital, a leading food and agriculture-focused investment manager in sub-Saharan Africa, has renewed and enhanced a loan facility to $1.8 million through its Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA). This investment underscores SEFAA’s mission to expand economic opportunities for smallholder farmers by strengthening the social enterprises that serve them. The facility supports Sukuma Commodities, one of the largest processors and exporters of high-quality coffee in Uganda from an initial $1 million investment in 2024, Sukuma has grown exports by over 60%, deepened engagement with smallholder farmers, and received technical assistance enabling registration under the EU Deforestation Regulation. The company has also strengthened its farmer registration systems, further supporting its supply chain and sustainability commitments.
“Sukuma has distinguished itself through strong leadership, efficient management, and a commitment to quality. With demand for premium Ugandan coffee growing, the company is at the forefront, supplying major buyers across Europe. We are proud to extend our relationship, increasing the facility to $1.8 million to further enhance Sukuma’s impact and strengthen its position as one of Uganda’s leading coffee exporters. I would also like to thank our Partner, Deji Adebusoye, for his support in making this investment possible.” Said, Zakayo Ngetich, Vice President for East and Southern Africa at Sahel Capital.
Fredrick Gubala, CEO and Founder of Sukuma Commodities, expressed his appreciation for SEFAA’s continued backing:” I am delighted to continue our partnership with Sahel Capital–SEFAA. Their initial investment in 2024 was transformative — it allowed us to scale exports, work more closely with smallholder farmers, and build compliance systems for international markets. I am especially grateful to the Sahel Capital team, particularly Zakayo Ngetich and Gregory Matu, for their unwavering collaboration and support”.
Sahel Capital currently manages three funds: Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (“FAFIN”), which has investments in SME agribusinesses in Nigeria, Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (“SEFAA”), which provides primarily structured debt to agribusiness SMEs across 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and Sahel Capital Agribusiness Fund II (“SCAF II”), which focuses on investment in equity growth companies across West Africa.