On Saturday, January 24, 2026, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni honored six exceptional entrepreneurs at the Mustard Seed Awards 2025, an event held at the Africa Coffee Park in Rwashameire, Ntungamo District. The awards were part of the President’s third visit to inspect the progress of Africa Coffee Park, a 150-acre industrial hub that is poised to become the largest coffee-processing and value-addition center in Eastern and Central Africa.
The Mustard Seed Awards, organized by Inspire Africa Coffee, were a celebration of 40 years of Uganda’s growth and transformation since President Museveni came to power. The recipients of the awards were recognized for their outstanding contributions to Uganda’s economic development, particularly in the sectors of entrepreneurship, industrialization, and export promotion.
Among the recipients were:
Jennifer Mwijukye, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Unifreight Cargo Handling Ltd.
Hao Zhang, Managing Director and Chairman of Liao Shen Industrial Park
Idro Taban, CEO of Zero Waste
Barak Orland, CEO of BAR Aviation
In his remarks, President Museveni praised the awardees for their contributions, stating that Uganda’s export earnings have for the first time outpaced its import bill, thanks to value addition. He highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship as the main engine driving economic growth in the country.
“I am so glad many people are waking up, and the rebirth of knowledge is now making sense,” said President Museveni. He also acknowledged the efforts of Nelson Tugume, CEO of Inspire Africa Coffee, who has been inspired by the President’s wealth creation philosophy. Tugume’s initiative, which includes producing organic coffee husk fertilizers and promoting sustainable coffee farming, has been transformative for the sector.
The President emphasized that entrepreneurship must be the key focus for Uganda’s economic success, alongside the four factors of production: land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship. He also made a strong statement about Africa’s need for greater economic growth, lamenting the vast gap between the continent’s GDP and that of smaller economies like the United States.
“Africa’s landmass is 12 times the size of India, with 1.5 billion people, yet its GDP is only $3 trillion, while the USA, which is about one-quarter of Africa’s land size, has a GDP of $32 trillion,” President Museveni remarked. “It’s a shame for such a small country to be 30 times richer than us.”
In addition to his economic insights, the President also expressed his appreciation for the overwhelming support during the recent presidential elections and congratulated the NRM leadership for their victory.
First Lady Janet Museveni, the Minister of Education and Sports, praised Inspire Africa Coffee for its job creation potential, especially through value-added coffee processing. She also lauded Tugume and his team for setting a new trajectory in the coffee sector.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, also spoke at the event, highlighting the historic support for President Museveni in Ntungamo District and the role Tugume’s investments are playing in the coffee value chain. He also praised the establishment of a fertilizer plant, which will provide affordable inputs for local farmers, boosting coffee yields and improving livelihoods.
In her remarks, Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, thanked Museveni’s wealth creation philosophy for empowering Ugandans and helping them achieve meaningful development. She credited Tugume’s vision and perseverance in transforming the coffee industry, especially after the fruitful discussions he had with his mother in 2018 about coffee prices. This exchange led to coffee exports from Uganda’s regions—Buganda, Kigezi, Ankole, and Bugisu—to international markets in Turkey, USA, and China.
Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, praised Museveni’s unwavering support for innovation, which has enabled scientific contributions to have a visible impact on Uganda’s economy.
For Nelson Tugume, who is a second-generation coffee farmer, this recognition was deeply personal. Tugume, whose late father was also in the coffee business, acknowledged that without President Museveni’s support, the Inspire Africa Coffee project would not have been possible.
“I am so grateful to you, Your Excellency. This dream wouldn’t have taken shape had it not been you,” Tugume expressed.
The Inspire Africa Coffee project is in line with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which aims to increase coffee value from $2 billion to $5 billion by 2030. The project is a key initiative in shifting Uganda from being a bulk coffee exporter to a high-value coffee producer by focusing on value addition.
Earlier in the day, President Museveni and the First Lady toured the fertilizer production plant located along the shores of Lake Nyabihoko. The visit was part of the President’s broader agenda to promote self-reliance and industrial growth in the country. Later, the President addressed the unstoppable victory rally organized in celebration of his recent election win, attended by Ministers, MPs, NRM leaders, and members of the business community.
The Mustard Seed Awards and the visit to Africa Coffee Park underscore Uganda’s ongoing commitment to economic development, innovation, and supporting entrepreneurs who are driving sustainable growth across the nation.
