The State Minister for Kampala and Member of Parliament for Nakaseke Central, Joseph Kabuye Kyofatogabye, has launched the construction of the Luweero Coffee Park, a Shs590 billion coffee value-addition facility, urging residents of Nakaseke and the wider Greater Luweero region to embrace commercial coffee farming to improve their household incomes.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony at Butalangu Village in Nakaseke District, Kyofatogabye said the factory will transform the region's agricultural sector by providing a ready market for farmers while creating thousands of employment opportunities.
"This factory is a game changer for our people. It will require more than 45 million kilograms of coffee every year, so I urge everyone to invest in coffee growing because the market is now here," Kyofatogabye said.
He noted that the facility will directly employ more than 5,000 people, including workers at coffee collection centres across the country, with a particular focus on creating opportunities for young people.
"Young people should not lose hope. This project will create employment and business opportunities for thousands of people in this region," he added.
Kyofatogabye also appealed to the project's investors to work closely with Butalangu Town Council to improve the surrounding environment by planting trees and maintaining proper landscaping to minimise dust contamination around the processing facility.
The factory, which will be constructed by Nonda Coffee Commodities Limited, is expected to be completed within two years.
Beyond coffee processing, the facility will add value to other agricultural products, including vanilla, cocoa, milk and a range of other farm produce.
According to the project's developers, the investment is intended to increase Uganda's agricultural exports while boosting farmers' incomes through value addition.
The founder of Nonda Coffee Commodities Limited, Tonny Miiro Kibuuka, said the company has already secured partnerships with buyers in Saudi Arabia, assuring farmers of a reliable export market.
"We are working directly with partners in Saudi Arabia who are ready to buy the products that will be processed here. Our priority is quality, which is why we shall also support farmers to produce high-quality coffee and other crops," Miiro said.
Nakaseke District Chairperson Ignatius Koomu Kiwanuka welcomed the investment, describing it as a significant milestone in the district's economic transformation.
"This is the kind of investment we have been waiting for. I encourage our people to work hard, embrace commercial agriculture and benefit from this factory," Kiwanuka said.
The Luweero Coffee Park will occupy more than 40 acres in Butalangu Town Council.
In addition to processing agricultural products, the project will establish farmer training programmes focusing on modern farming practices, sustainable agriculture and chemical-free production to improve the quality of produce destined for both local and international markets.