Omukama (king) Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru of Toro kingdom has commended the management of Africa Coffee Park for their efforts in establishing a coffee value-addition plant that will employ Ugandans.
“This factory will not only improve the livelihoods of Ugandan farmers, including those from the Toro kingdom, but will also provide them with a ready market for their coffee,” the Omukama said through his agriculture minister, Dr Patience Rwamigisa, who accompanied him during yesterday’s (Thursday, April 24) visit to the park.
The Africa Coffee Park is located in Rwashamaire parish, Nyabihoko sub-county in Ntungamo district and is expected to process Uganda’s coffee before it is exported.
Dr Rwamigisa pledged the kingdom’s collaboration with the team behind the coffee plant in a bid to boost production and earnings.
Nelson Tugume, the chief executive officer of Inspire Africa Group, which is behind the project, gifted the Omukama five heifers.
He also said the company has lined up a number of activities to intensify the conversation about Uganda’s coffee.
Among these are a conference, business forum and marathon.
Tugume said on May 21, President Yoweri Museveni and the First Lady, Janet Museveni, will be chief guests at the park’s commissioning.
Inspire Africa Group, in partnership with the Government, will convene the inaugural Africa Business and Investment Forum under the theme: Innovation, Industrialisation and Value Addition.
The forum will bring together investors, bankers, entrepreneurs and development partners for a strategic conversation on Africa’s industrial future.
There will also be an Inspire Women Africa Conference, organised by Inspire Africa Group in partnership with the Ugandan Embassy in Türkiye and the Office of the First Lady.
The conference will bring together leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals and innovators.
Tugume said the special sessions will focus on women’s leadership in agribusiness, health and sustainable development.
On May 24, the Uganda Coffee Marathon, expected to attract thousands of runners to the Ntungamo hills, will take place.
Tugume said it will feature artistes such as Diamond Platinumz, Ray G and Sister Charity.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: King Oyo (second-left) being taken on a tour of the factory by Tugume and other stakeholders at the Inspire Africa facility in Rwashamaire, Ntungamo district.
