The 1stUganda-China Coffee Awareness Tour, which began on May 12, 2025, officially concluded today with a landmark eventโthe inaugural Uganda-China Coffee Trade and Investment Meeting. The tour, hailed as a transformative engagement, has strengthened bilateral cooperation and opened new avenues for trade and investment in Ugandaโs coffee sector.
During the opening ceremony of the final meeting, Ambassador Oliver Wonekha, Ugandaโs Head of Mission in Beijing, underscored the strategic importance of this partnership. She highlighted Ugandaโs favorable climate, high-quality Arabica and Robusta varieties, and youthful farming population as critical assets that position Uganda to meet Chinaโs growing demand for premium coffee. She reiterated the Embassyโs commitment to eliminating trade barriers, facilitating market access, and encouraging technology transfer and cultural exchange between the two countries.
Amb. Zhang Lizhong, Chinaโs envoy to Uganda, lauded the success of the awareness tour, noting its role in deepening bilateral trade ties and promoting Ugandaโs rich coffee heritage. He emphasized Chinaโs interest in sustainably produced coffee and welcomed future collaborations grounded in trust, trade, and technology.
Permanent Secretary Bagiire Vincent Waiswa reflected on the tourโs impact, which included visits to key coffee-producing regions like Masaka, Mbarara, and Mbale. He noted that the tour served as a platform to show-case Ugandaโs coffee potential, attract investment in value addition, and connect Ugandan farmers with Chinese buyers. Remarkably, coffee exports to China have surged by 190% as of March 2025.
Closing the event, Ambassador Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Geoffrey Muheesi expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their dedication and emphasized the importance of building on this momentum.
This pioneering tour marks a significant step toward realizing Ugandaโs Coffee Roadmap 2030 and Vision 2040, positioning China as a key strategic partner in Ugandaโs coffee-driven transformation.
