For Babra Kaikara, every time is coffee time and she means it quite literally. At just 27 years old, this passionate innovator from Kimaka Division, Mpumudde Subcounty in Jinja, is capturing attention and transforming taste buds with her bold creation: Coffee Extra.
It’s a powerful, flavour-packed juice infused with coffee and Mulondo, designed to boost energy, spark vitality, and deliver a proudly Ugandan twist to how coffee is enjoyed.
Babra is the founder of Imaro Innovations, the enterprise behind Coffee Extra. Her journey didn’t begin in a high-end boardroom, but at the Jinja Agricultural Show Ground in 2024. It was there that she met Papius Tumusingize, a staff member from the CURAD-SAYE Project, who introduced her to SAYE project focused on empowering youth across the Busoga sub-region. That chance encounter marked the beginning of a transformation that changed everything for Barbra and for the young people she’s now inspiring.
After learning about the SAYE Project, Barbra expressed keen interest and she joined SAYE under CURAD. She was invited to attend the Idea Refinement Bootcamp, where her entrepreneurial journey took a new direction. While she initially planned to venture into making dried fruit snacks, the bootcamp experience sparked a completely different idea.
“I came in thinking I’d make snacks, maybe dried fruits,” she said with with a laugh. “But during the idea refinement bootcamp, the concept of Coffee Mulondo Juice hit me. I wanted to create something that makes coffee more accessible, refreshing, and unexpected.”
It was in that space surrounded by mentors, fellow youth, and fresh ideas, that Coffee Extra Juice was born.
A Sip of Innovation
Babra’s target audience? Men, students, boda riders and anyone who lives on coffee but wants it differently at any time of the day and Coffee Extra delivers just that: a bold blend that’s as energizing in Uganda’s hot weather as it is during a 7 a.m. hustle.
From Jinja to Addis Ababa
Still, during the Idea Refinement Bootcamp – Cohort One, 2024, Barbra made meaningful connections that opened new doors. Through networking at the bootcamp, she earned the opportunity to represent Uganda at the African Youth in Agribusiness Forum in Ethiopia, organised by the African Union.
“I went with my Coffee Extra Juice idea, and that’s what made me stand out,” she shares proudly.
But her journey didn’t end there. The bootcamp helped her refine her concept, progress into product development, where her prototype was created, and later advance into commercial production all with support from CURAD-SAYE. She was also equipped with a startup kit to officially launch the Coffee Extra brand.
And the exposure went far beyond business.
“It was through SAYE that I was introduced to LinkedIn, and that changed my entire perspective. I now see myself not just as a businesswoman, but as a brand.” She said.
Impact
Babra’s business is not just growing, it’s transforming lives. She currently employs seven young people: five involved in production and branding, and two more preparing to support operations at her first Coffee Extra outlet, set to open next month in Kamuli.
She’s also taking steps to formalise employment by planning to register her staff with NSSF, a move that reflects her commitment to responsible business growth.
Looking ahead, Babra hopes to create even more jobs for youth as her brand expands. Her work has also earned her another travel opportunity next month, proving that homegrown innovations can open global doors.
“I’m building something that gives back to the community”, she says. “It’s about youth employment, value addition, and creating something proudly Ugandan to the core”.
The Grind Behind the Glory
Like many entrepreneurs, Babra faces her share of challenges, from scaling up production to managing finances. Yet her vision remains clear: to grow her brand, create more jobs, and see Coffee Mulondo on every shelf in Uganda and eventually, beyond. She proudly calls her product “my breakthrough,” a symbol of her determination and dreams.
A Taste of What’s Possible
Babra Kaikara’s journey is a testament to what happens when bold ideas meet the right support. Through CURAD-SAYE, she didn’t just find training, she found purpose, a platform, and a product that’s setting a new trend in Uganda’s agri-business scene.
Because with Coffee Extra, it’s always coffee time.
