MICHAEL A
Inspire Africa Coffee on Wednesday joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Coffee Day with the unveiling of its first line of coffee products, a milestone that marks Uganda’s growing role in the global coffee market.
The factory, established in 2017 and located on over 300 acres of land in Rwashamaire Town Council, Kajara County, Ntungamo District, has become one of the most recognized coffee projects worldwide. It currently employs more than 5,000 people at both the main processing plant in Rwashamaire and its expansive coffee farm on the shores of Lake Nyabihoko.
Speaking at the event, Nelson Tugume, CEO of Inspire Africa, highlighted the company’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of Ugandans through job creation and value addition. He revealed that Inspire Africa has already developed four new coffee products for the market, with more to come.
“Our vision is to make Uganda’s coffee a competitive product on the global market by adding value, increasing prices for our farmers, and creating opportunities for export,” Tugume said, adding that the first international export of Inspire Africa’s coffee will be flagged off by H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on October 7th.
Government officials also praised the initiative as a landmark in Uganda’s industrial and rural transformation. Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, noted that government is extending electricity from the Mirama Hills Substation to Rwashamaire to power the factory’s operations, a move expected to reduce energy costs for the surrounding communities.
Hon. Milly Babirye Babalanda, Minister for the Presidency, applauded Inspire Africa’s role in tackling unemployment and poverty by providing opportunities for both skilled and unskilled Ugandans. She emphasized that coffee farmers stand to benefit through improved prices and sensitization programs on quality production.
The event’s Guest of Honour, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, called for legal frameworks to encourage Ugandans to grow more coffee, citing the crop’s unmatched potential compared to traditional cash crops such as cotton. He praised Dr. Tugume’s vision and international advocacy, which has already attracted global partnerships for Uganda’s coffee.
Chief Justice Dollo also flagged off the first truckload of Inspire Africa’s newly manufactured coffee products, symbolizing the beginning of a new chapter for Uganda’s coffee sector.
