Uganda calls for foreign investment in agro-processing and coffee value addition

Ugandan leadership is calling for increased foreign investment in agro-processing and industrialisation to move the nation away from exporting raw materials.

During the first Uganda–Italy Business and Investment Forum in Rome, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja urged Italian investors to establish coffee processing facilities in Uganda. She noted that local processing would allow the country to capture higher international prices for its organic coffee, create jobs for the youth, and increase export returns.

In a separate dialogue, President Yoweri Museveni addressed the European Union, advocating for a partnership based on economic empowerment rather than a system of dependence. Museveni highlighted the economic disparity in the coffee trade, noting that while unprocessed beans fetch approximately $2 per kilogram, processed coffee can reach $40. He called on European companies to facilitate local processing in Africa to ensure mutually beneficial trade and poverty eradication.