Inspire Africa Group (IAG), Uganda’s private sector champion of coffee value addition, has hosted a strategic Coffee Breakfast Meeting, bringing together key stakeholders in the coffee industry, government, development agencies, and the private sector to share the group’s bold vision of growing Uganda’s coffee economy from USD 1 billion to USD 5 billion in five years.
The meeting held at Twed Towers, Kampala also previewed the upcoming Coffee Marathon and Coffee Concert scheduled for May 24th, 2025, aimed at uplifting the rural coffee woman, and strengthening community involvement in the coffee value chain.
During the meeting, IAG Board Chairperson, Dr. Robert Lim Lim introduced the two-time gold medalist, Ms. Dorcas Inzikuru, as the coffee marathon brand ambassador.
Representing Uganda Athletics Federation, the Federation General Secretary, Mr. Apollo unveiled the marathon routes for the 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km races, and said that they expect elite runners to join the marathon. He also revealed a total of UGX 116 million as prize money for the winners of the different races.
The breakfast event comes ahead of the grand commissioning of the Africa Coffee Park in Rwashamaire, Ntungamo District on May 21st, 2025 by H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. This world-class facility, the largest in Eastern and Central Africa, will spearhead Uganda’s journey into high-value coffee processing and coffee tourism.
Representing the Deputy Governor of Bank of Uganda, Mr. Nicholas Okot hailed IAG’s initiative as a transformative milestone for Uganda’s economy. “Inspire Africa’s vision aligns perfectly with the Uganda we are trying to build an economy that exports finished, premium goods and creates lasting wealth for its people.”
The Africa Coffee Industrial Hub is equipped with cutting-edge Freeze Dry Technology, the same used by global giants like Nestlé, to produce instant coffee, coffee-based energy drinks, and beauty cosmetics. It is the first facility in the region to apply this level of technology to African-grown beans.
In his remarks, Dr. Nelson Tugume, CEO of Inspire Africa Group, underscored the scale and ambition of the project. “Uganda has always been a coffee giant, but now, we are setting out to become a coffee brand. We will no longer export raw potential we will export finished excellence. Our target is bold: USD 4 billion from value-added exports and USD 1 billion from coffee tourism. The time for transformation is now.”
Dr. Tugume also announced the development of a 150-acre Africa Coffee Park, which will include a 4,000-seater Sports Complex, a 1,000-seater Convention Centre, a Coffee Academy, an Exhibition Centre, and an IT Innovation Park to support Africa’s Artificial Intelligence Vision.
Also unveiled at the meeting were the marathon sponsors that included Equity Bank, Crown Beverages Limited, Uganda Tourism Board, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance. Equity Bank will also be headlining the Africa Business and Investment Forum while DFCU will lead on the Inspire Women Conference, all happening in May.
