Ntungamo — The Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, has commended the Inspire Africa Group for establishing the Africa Coffee Park in Ntungamo District, describing it as “a game-changer in Uganda’s journey toward industrialisation and coffee value addition.”
Last week, visiting the facility for the first time in his oversight role as the political supervisor of the coffee sector, Hon. Tumwebaze toured all sections of the 150-acre industrial complex — from the wet and dry mills to the roastery, spray-dry, and freeze-dry plants, as well as the cosmetics and coffee brew production lines.
“I want to thank Mr Nelson Tugume and his team for the vision and resilience they have exhibited throughout this project,” said Hon. Tumwebaze. “The project can speak for itself because a lot of work has been done. I also appreciate President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for supporting this vision — a vision to stop exporting jobs and raw resources.”
The Africa Coffee Park, developed by Inspire Africa Group, is set to become Eastern Africa’s largest coffee processing and value addition hub, producing instant coffee, coffee energy drinks, and coffee-based beauty products using advanced freeze-dry technology.
Powering Uganda’s Coffee Transformation
In his remarks, Mr Nelson Tugume, Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Africa Group, said the factory had already commenced mass production of roasted and ground coffee, drip coffee, and coffee capsules, with the first export consignment dispatched to Somalia this month.
“The only thing delaying us is the dedicated electricity line to the factory,” Tugume explained. “The connection to the Mirama Hills power line is ongoing, and as soon as we have stable power, instant coffee production will start immediately.”
Tugume emphasised that Uganda’s coffee story was shifting from raw exportation to industrial-scale value addition. “Coffee is not just a cash crop; it is a business, a science, and a vehicle for wealth,” he said. “Africa produces only $2.6 billion worth of coffee out of a $460 billion global market — this is the gap we are determined to close. We are not just producing coffee; we are building industries, transforming mindsets, and restoring African ingenuity.”
Coffee, Tourism, and Storytelling: A New Chapter for Ntungamo
Earlier this month, during the World Coffee Day celebrations held at the same venue, the Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, applauded Inspire Africa for merging coffee, tourism, and storytelling into one experience.
“To spend a night here, I am okay — I am enjoying myself,” she said. “The story of Lake Nyabihoko and the beach is amazing. The Bazungu create stories around everything — that storytelling generates value. I must say, what we are seeing here is extraordinary.”
Also speaking at the event, Hon. Dr Monica Musenero, Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, hailed the Africa Coffee Park as a symbol of scientific transformation and national pride.
“Uganda, the birthplace of Robusta coffee, holds a sacred place in the global coffee story,” she noted. “For too long, we exported raw beans and imported back their value-added products. This project reverses that narrative and demonstrates what Ugandan innovation can achieve.”
In his turn, Tugume revealed that Inspire Africa is developing a coffee tourism programme, aimed at attracting at least 1,000 American coffee tourists annually to experience the coffee culture, production, and natural beauty of the Africa Coffee Park and Lake Nyabihoko’s Coffee Beach Resort.
Coffee and Diplomacy
Speaking during the Uganda-Russia Intergovernmental Meeting held in Munyonyo, Ambassador Moses Kizige, Uganda’s envoy to Russia, emphasised the growing trade partnership between Uganda and Russia — an opportunity he said complements Uganda’s coffee industrialisation efforts.
“Uganda’s trade with Russia is growing steadily,” Amb. Kizige stated. “We are focusing on diversifying exports beyond coffee to include fruits, vegetables, dairy, and fish — while promoting imports of technology, machinery, and industrial equipment to boost production capacity.”
Ntungamo’s Local Impact
Mr Samuel Muchunguzi Rwakigoba, the LCV Chairperson of Ntungamo District, said the Africa Coffee Park had already transformed the local economy.
“Since the establishment of the Park, Ntungamo has not been the same,” he said. “Hotels are full, trade is vibrant, and in Rwashamaire Town Council alone, we have seen up to 20 million shillings circulate in just three days. This development has truly transformed our district.”
Rwakigoba praised local farmers and pledged that the district would maintain the highest standards of coffee quality while positioning Ntungamo as a new tourism hub in western Uganda.
A New Coffee Revolution
Dr Robert Limlim, Chairman of the Board of Inspire Africa Group, said the Africa Coffee Park represents the dawn of a new coffee revolution for Uganda and the continent.
“Our goal was to disrupt the global coffee industry — to change the architecture of how coffee is valued and traded,” he said. “As Uganda has oil in Albertine, we now have world-class coffee in Rwashamaire. This light that began in Gulu has become a flame that will inspire Africa and the Global South to challenge the Global North in the coffee business.”
The Africa Coffee Park aligns directly with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV 2025/2026–2029/2030), identifying coffee as one of six key agricultural value chains for value addition.
