The inaugural Uganda-China Coffee Awareness Tour, which kicked off on May 12, 2025, concluded with a milestone event—the first-ever Uganda-China Coffee Trade and Investment Meeting.
Widely hailed as a transformative initiative, the tour has cemented stronger bilateral ties and unlocked fresh opportunities for trade and investment in Uganda’s thriving coffee sector.
At the opening of the final meeting, Uganda’s Ambassador to China, Oliver Wonekha, emphasised the strategic importance of the partnership, pointing to Uganda’s ideal climate, premium Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties, and its energetic farming youth as key strengths to meet China’s rising demand for quality coffee.
She reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to dismantling trade barriers, promoting market access, and fostering technology exchange and cultural cooperation.
China’s Ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong, praised the awareness tour for advancing bilateral trade relations and showcasing Uganda’s rich coffee heritage. He highlighted China’s growing interest in sustainably sourced coffee and expressed optimism about future collaborations anchored in trust, innovation, and mutual benefit.
Permanent Secretary Bagiire Vincent Waiswa noted the tour’s impact across coffee-growing regions such as Masaka, Mbarara, and Mbale.
He stressed that the initiative not only showcased Uganda’s coffee potential but also promoted value addition and direct linkages between Ugandan farmers and Chinese buyers. Notably, Uganda’s coffee exports to China have surged by 190% as of March 2025.
Closing the event, Ambassador Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Geoffrey Muheesi thanked all stakeholders for their commitment and called for continued momentum to scale the progress achieved.
The tour marks a major step in advancing Uganda’s Coffee Roadmap 2030 and Vision 2040, with China emerging as a vital partner in Uganda’s coffee-led economic transformation.