Uganda is preparing to host a high-level roundtable discussion aimed at leveraging coffee as a driver of industrialisation, tourism, investment, and global commercial diplomacy. The event, themed "One Table: Defining the Africa We Want," will take place on November 13 and 14, 2026, at the Africa Coffee Park in Rwashamaire, Ntungamo District. The meeting will bring together senior government officials, policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, and tourism industry players.
The roundtable will focus on how Uganda and Africa can move beyond traditional production and export of raw agricultural commodities towards greater value addition, industrial development, and stronger participation in international markets. Representatives from key government institutions, including the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Agriculture, and Foreign Affairs, will attend the meeting. The participation of senior officials from the Office of the President, Uganda's diplomatic missions, and economic agencies is expected to bring a broader policy and international trade perspective to the discussions.
High-ranking government officials, including Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Hon. Sanjay Tanna, and Minister of State for Agriculture Hon. Desire Muhooza, will attend the roundtable. The private sector and tourism industry will also be represented by business leaders, including Dr. Nelson Tugume, Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Africa Group, and tourism entrepreneur Amos Wekesa.
The roundtable will explore how coffee can become more than an agricultural export for Uganda, one of Africa's leading coffee producers. The focus will be on developing stronger domestic processing capacity, expanding locally manufactured coffee products, creating jobs, and retaining a greater share of the value generated along the international coffee supply chain. The tourism dimension is also significant, with the potential to develop coffee tourism as an additional attraction for both domestic and international visitors.
The choice of the Africa Coffee Park as the venue provides a practical setting for these discussions. Located in Rwashamaire, Ntungamo District, the facility brings together coffee production, processing, and value addition, illustrating the potential of linking agriculture with manufacturing and tourism. The roundtable will seek to connect policy, investment, entrepreneurship, and international commercial relationships around a commodity that remains central to Uganda's agricultural economy.
The event aims to explore how African countries can use their natural resources, local industries, and strategic partnerships to build more competitive economies, create opportunities for their populations, and strengthen their position in global commerce. The discussions will also focus on integrating coffee production, processing, cultural experiences, and hospitality to develop coffee tourism.
Key points to be discussed at the roundtable include the potential for coffee-led industrialisation, the role of tourism in driving economic growth, and the importance of value addition in the coffee industry. The event is expected to bring together over 100 participants, including government officials, business leaders, and tourism industry players, to share ideas and develop strategies for leveraging coffee as a driver of economic growth and development in Uganda and Africa.
Key points
- Coffee can become a driver of industrialisation, tourism, and investment in Uganda and Africa.
- The roundtable aims to explore how African countries can use their natural resources to build more competitive economies.
- The event will focus on developing stronger domestic processing capacity and expanding locally manufactured coffee products.
