Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Uganda’s Vice President Jessica Alupo has officially inaugurated the country’s first Single-Origin Coffee Franchise, Nonda Coffee Shop and Roastery, in Riyadh, marking a historic step in bringing Uganda’s premium coffee to the global stage.
Located in the bustling heart of Riyadh, the shop will serve premium Ugandan coffee to residents, business travelers, pilgrims, tourists, and international investors visiting the Kingdom. This is the first of multiple outlets planned across Saudi Arabia.
“This launch not only opens new markets for Ugandan coffee but also creates employment opportunities for our citizens and inspires smallholder farmers to scale up production,” Vice President Alupo said during the ceremony.
The launch is part of Nonda Coffee’s “Value at Source Project”, implemented in partnership with the Saudi-based investment firm Ingazi Group International. The initiative aims to:
• Deepen processing and branding capacity at origin, ensuring that more value remains within producing communities.
• Promote industrial linkages and rural job creation by connecting smallholder farmers to commercial markets.
• Strengthen Uganda–Saudi Arabia economic cooperation and expand global market access for Ugandan coffee.
A flagship component of the project is the Luwero Coffee Park, which, when completed, will process up to 35,000 metric tons of coffee annually, becoming one of Africa’s largest coffee value-addition centers.
According to Tonny Miiro Kibuuka, CEO of Nonda Commodities Ltd, the project has the potential to employ thousands of Ugandans and unlock international investment opportunities.
“By building win-win partnerships, we are creating dignified and sustainable livelihoods across the coffee value chain. Our mission goes beyond producing premium coffee; it is about industrial growth, rural job creation, and inclusive economic participation,” he said.
The launch comes amid record growth in Uganda’s coffee sector. National production rose from 7.8 million 60-kg bags in FY 2022/23 to 8.2 million bags in FY 2023/24, while export earnings surged from USD 845 million to USD 1.144 billion, highlighting Uganda’s rising prominence in the global coffee market.
Vice President Alupo highlighted the broader socio-economic benefits:
• Integrating households into the money economy: Currently, 33% of Ugandan households remain outside formal financial systems. Expanding commercial agriculture participation will help reduce this number.
• Boosting Uganda’s coffee brand internationally: The Riyadh shop is both a showcase for premium Ugandan coffee and a platform for cultural and economic diplomacy.
• Promoting sustainable smallholder farming: Encouraging farmers to scale up production through value addition and international market access.
“This initiative demonstrates Uganda’s potential to compete globally while ensuring prosperity at home,” Alupo said.
With the Nonda Coffee shop in Riyadh now operational and the Luwero Coffee Park on the horizon, Uganda is strengthening its coffee value chain from farm to international market.
The success of these ventures is expected to drive South–South investment, foster industrialization, and empower communities, positioning Uganda as a global leader in premium coffee production.
