Kampala, May 20, 2025: The inaugural Uganda–China Coffee Awareness Tour has officially concluded today with a high-level investment and trade conference held at Mestil Hotel, Kampala, bringing together stakeholders from both nations to chart a way forward for bilateral cooperation in the coffee industry.
The tour, which kicked off on May 12, 2025, hosted a delegation of Chinese coffee investors and enthusiasts on an intensive familiarization mission across Uganda’s major coffee-growing regions, including Masaka, Kyenjojo, Kasese, Mbarara, Mbale, and Jinja. The initiative was spearheaded by Uganda’s Embassy in China, in collaboration with the Consulate in Guangzhou, as part of efforts to strengthen agricultural trade and attract investment in Uganda’s robust coffee sector.
Addressing delegates at the closing conference, China’s Ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong, reaffirmed Beijing’s growing interest in Uganda’s coffee industry. “This is not just about coffee; it’s about cultivating a sustainable and mutually beneficial trade relationship between our countries,” he noted.
In his keynote speech, Uganda’s Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Waiswa Bagiire, emphasized the impact of such familiarization tours in unlocking the coffee trade potential between the two countries. “This tour has provided a vital platform for Ugandan coffee farmers and cooperatives to connect directly with Chinese investors and importers. It’s a significant milestone in promoting Uganda’s coffee and expanding its global footprint,” Bagiire remarked.
The week-long tour took the Chinese delegation through the Kibinge Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Bukomansimbi, Bugisu Cooperative Union in Mbale, and the CURAD Roastery in Kampala, among other stops, offering a firsthand experience of Uganda’s coffee value chain—from farm to cup.
Ambassador Oliver Wonekha, Uganda’s top diplomat in China, called the initiative a turning point in Uganda’s efforts to tap into Asia’s booming coffee markets. “With China’s coffee consumption growing at an annual rate of 15%, Uganda’s high-quality Arabica and Robusta beans are perfectly positioned to satisfy this demand,” she said.
According to government statistics, Uganda’s coffee exports to China have surged by 190% as of March 2025, making China the second-largest market for Ugandan coffee in Asia. Officials believe this trajectory aligns with Uganda’s ambitious National Coffee Roadmap, which targets an increase in production to 20 million 60-kg bags by 2030.
Also in attendance was Maj. Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, who underscored the government’s strategic positioning of coffee as a key economic crop. “We view coffee as a gateway to sustainable development. Investment in value addition, processing, and export logistics is vital,” he noted.
The conference featured presentations from various Ugandan coffee entrepreneurs and companies, including Noble Choice Ltd, which shared success stories of Uganda-China trade partnerships already bearing fruit. Delegates also discussed ways to streamline export procedures, improve packaging, meet international standards, and eliminate bottlenecks that hinder trade.
Three central themes echoed throughout the event:
1. Economic Impact – Coffee remains Uganda’s top foreign exchange earner and supports millions of smallholder farmers. Streamlining direct trade with China will improve farmers’ incomes and cut out costly middlemen.
2. Investment in Value Addition – Chinese investment in processing and packaging technology can help Uganda move up the value chain and capture more value from its exports.
3. Cultural Exchange and Diplomacy – The tour fostered deepened people-to-people ties, with stops at the Igongo Cultural Centre and Sipi Falls showing how coffee is embedded in Uganda’s heritage.
“This tour has laid a foundation for more than trade—it has created trust, friendship, and opportunity,” said Ambassador Zhang.
Uganda’s Vision 2040 and membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) were also spotlighted as critical frameworks for leveraging the country’s agricultural potential. “With access to over 1.2 billion people under AfCFTA, and a government committed to agro-industrialization, tourism, ICT, and mineral development, Uganda offers vast investment opportunities,” Bagiire added.
As the curtains fall on the 1st Uganda–China Coffee Awareness Tour, both countries have expressed commitment to sustaining the momentum. Future joint ventures, knowledge exchange, and increased trade volumes are on the horizon.
Indeed, as several speakers observed, the seeds planted this past week could very well grow into a flourishing coffee partnership that benefits both Ugandan farmers and Chinese consumers for years to come.
