President Museveni backs USD200 million Nonda Coffee Park project to boost Uganda’s coffee value addition

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda reported that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged government support for the planned Nonda Coffee Park in Nakaseke District, after meeting a delegation from the project at State House, Entebbe. The team was led by Nonda Coffee Park Chief Executive Officer Tonny Miiro Kibuuka, who briefed Museveni on progress and sought further state backing before a planned groundbreaking in October.

The proposed agro-industrial site is planned for 100 acres in Butalangu Town Council. According to the report, backers say it could become the largest single coffee processing facility in East and Central Africa, with an annual processing capacity of 42,000 metric tons. Miiro linked the project to the Great Uganda-Saudi Coffee Corridor and the Value-at-Source Coffee Project, an initiative intended to keep more of the coffee value chain inside Uganda before export.

Watchdog Uganda reported that the investment is estimated at USD200 million, with about USD160 million going into the park and related infrastructure. The article says the Ugandan government is expected to contribute USD44 million, while private investors from Saudi Arabia would provide the remainder. Miiro said the processed coffee has a planned off-take market in Saudi Arabia, where the company says it operates two Ugandan-branded coffee shops, and projected annual revenues of more than USD800 million.

The project matters because coffee is one of Uganda’s key export earners, and domestic processing could increase value captured locally if the facility is built and markets materialize as described. Watchdog said preparatory works have begun and completion is expected within 24 months.