The construction of the African Coffee Park in Ntungamo District has reached an impressive 75% completion, marking a significant milestone in Uganda’s journey toward coffee value addition.
Inspire Africa Group CEO Tugume Nelson provided an update during an oversight visit led by Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi.
“Plant construction is at 75%, and equipment installation stands at 80%. We expect the first product by the first quarter of 2025,” Tugume said.
During the visit, Ssenyonyi acknowledged the importance of long-term sustainability for the coffee sector.
“This coffee is here to stay for ages regardless of what happens. Coffee outlives governments, regimes, and human beings,” Ssenyonyi stated.
Ssenyonyi also expressed optimism about the project’s timeline.
“We have moved around the coffee park, and we have seen the ongoing work. I asked Tugume Nelson about timelines, and he said, By around March 2025, we will be good to go,” he said.
However, Ssenyonyi raised concerns about ensuring value for money in government-supported projects, stressing that investments should directly benefit Uganda’s farmers and the economy.
“The other issue is value for money. That’s the very aspect of these projects supported by the government and the taxpayers,” he said.
Tugume Nelson highlighted the plant’s focus on blending coffee from different regions of Uganda to meet consumer preferences globally.
“We get coffee from different areas, say Masaka, Bugisu, and Rwenzori, which we blend in our different silos to produce different blends according to the taste of our consumers around the world,” he said.
However, he pointed out a challenge, noting that the plant will only process about 10% of Uganda’s coffee output, leaving 90% untapped.
Nakaseke South MP Lutamaguzi Semakula praised the project’s potential, emphasising its financial benefits for Uganda’s coffee industry.
“The economy stands to gain financially if all processes at the Africa Coffee Park are successfully implemented,” Semakula said.
The Africa Coffee Park, which ranks Uganda as the 8th largest coffee producer globally and the leading producer in East Africa, is an ambitious effort to increase the country’s coffee exports.
