Minister Musenero Commends Tugume as Africa Coffee Park Launches in Ntungamo

In the rolling hills of Rwanshamaire, Ntungamo District, a vision long in the making officially came to life on May 23, 2025, with the launch of the Africa Coffee Park—a bold agro-industrial complex that promises to redefine Uganda’s approach to one of its most valuable exports. The project, spearheaded by entrepreneur Nelson Tugume, received high praise from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), with officials hailing it as a cornerstone in Uganda’s ongoing journey toward industrialisation and value addition.

Representing the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero, at the ceremony was Dr. Cosmos Mwikirize, Superintendent for Industrial Value Chains Development. Delivering a message on her behalf, Dr. Mwikirize commended Tugume’s courage and ingenuity. “We want to thank Mr. Nelson Tugume for being an innovation champion. He was crazy enough to dream,” he said, echoing the Minister’s sentiments that such visionary thinking is exactly what Uganda needs to transform its economic trajectory.

Dr. Musenero, through her written message, described the Africa Coffee Park as a symbol of what is possible when science and entrepreneurship converge. “President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s belief in STI as a force for socioeconomic transformation has laid the foundation for such audacious projects,” she noted. Her remarks underscored the government’s commitment to leveraging innovation to reduce dependency on raw exports, instead building a system that maximizes value locally and benefits Ugandans directly.

For Nelson Tugume, the journey to this point has been one marked by ambition, resilience, and unshaken belief in Africa’s potential to rise through its own resources. Standing before a crowd of local leaders, government officials, entrepreneurs, and development partners, Tugume acknowledged the support of the government and reiterated the importance of scaling value addition. “This facility is now 70% complete, but a lot still needs to be done,” he said. “At full capacity, this park will consume only 10% of Uganda’s coffee production. That tells you the urgency and importance of establishing more similar value addition parks across the country.”

His call to action was clear: Africa must stop exporting its wealth in raw form and begin controlling its value chains. The Africa Coffee Park, he said, is not just a business; it is a movement aimed at ensuring Ugandan coffee reaches global shelves not as green beans, but as high-quality, market-ready products that reflect the continent’s true potential.

The launch drew notable figures from various sectors, creating an atmosphere of both celebration and strategic alignment. Dr. Patrick Ogwang Magoola, best known for developing the Covidex herbal remedy, applauded the initiative as a reflection of Uganda’s growing capacity to solve its own problems through science and innovation. “This is what happens when government supports local solutions,” he said.

From the financial sector, Equity Bank’s Marketing Manager Robert Wanok pledged continued partnership, describing the Africa Coffee Park as a model for future investment. “We are committed to working with innovative enterprises like this to ensure they have access to the financial tools needed to grow and scale,” he noted.

Representing the Uganda Revenue Authority, Peter Twesigama emphasized the factory’s role in broadening the national tax base. “When industry grows, our economy grows,” he remarked. “This park is not just adding value to coffee—it’s creating jobs, infrastructure, and taxable income.”

Beyond the economic and scientific endorsements, the occasion carried a spiritual tone as well. Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa of the Ankole Diocese offered prayers and blessings over the facility, calling it a “blessing to the region and the nation” and encouraging leaders to ensure its sustainability and community impact.

Hon. Joselyn Kamateneti, the Woman Member of Parliament for Ntungamo District, reflected on the factory’s early impact in the community. “This facility has already created jobs, strengthened the local coffee economy, and stimulated infrastructure development. We are grateful to President Museveni and all stakeholders who believed in this vision,” she said.

As the project nears completion, its significance extends far beyond the district of Ntungamo. The Africa Coffee Park stands as a beacon of Uganda’s commitment to agro-industrialisation, representing a crucial pivot away from extractive trade patterns toward a future defined by innovation, ownership, and prosperity. In the words of many who gathered at the launch, it is not just a factory—it is a statement that Africa is ready to process, produce, and profit from its own wealth.