KAMPALA, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni has approved a 572 billion shilling investment to establish a coffee park in the Luwero district, part of a national push to move away from exporting raw beans.
The $160 million agro-industrial project is expected to increase farmer incomes, create jobs and expand Ugandan coffee exports into Saudi Arabia and other Gulf markets.
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Of the total amount, $148 million represents new investment. Another $12 million has already been spent on preliminary work, including securing land and developing core infrastructure.
In a letter to Saudi investor Ali Saleh O. Alswayeh dated Sept. 12, Museveni pledged full support for the initiative. He noted its importance for job creation and export diversification.
The project is being implemented by Nonda Commodities Limited and Saudi partner Ingaz Group International. The Ugandan government and local stakeholders will contribute $44 million, while Alswayeh will invest $104 million.
As part of the deal, a dedicated outlet for Ugandan coffee will be established at the Jazan Coffee Terminal on the Red Sea.
Uganda aims to increase coffee export earnings from the current $2.4 billion to $10 billion by 2030 through industrialization and expanded market access. Luwero, located in the Central region, is one of the country’s primary Robusta-producing areas.
Once operational, the Luwero Coffee Park will process up to 42,000 metric tons of coffee annually. Tonny Miiro Kibuuka, chief executive officer of Nonda Commodities Limited, said the facility will include roasting, grinding, packaging and export logistics.
Alswayeh, chairman of Ingaz International Group, said the investment connects one of the world’s best coffee sources with a rapidly growing market in the Gulf.
The announcement follows the October opening of Uganda’s first single-origin coffee shop and roastery in Riyadh under the Nonda Coffee brand. Vice President Jessica Alupo officiated the launch, which is part of a plan to open 50 outlets across Saudi Arabia.
