Uganda holds coffee, tea and tourism expo in Egypt

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Uganda successfully held its first tourism, tea and coffee expo at the Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski in Cairo, Egypt, from November 20 to 22.

The three-day event was organised by Uganda’s embassy in Egypt through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and other stakeholders.

The expo was designed to position Uganda for economic and commercial diplomacy, contributing to the ten-fold growth strategy under the fourth National Development Programme (NDP IV).

Lt Gen. Charles Angina, Charge d'Affaires at Uganda’s embassy in Egypt, thanked the heads of state of Uganda and Egypt for creating an enabling environment for sustainable business between the two countries.

He said Uganda is at a pivotal point in its development, with abundant natural resources, a young population and a rising international demand for authentic cultural and agricultural products.

He noted that tourism and agro-industrialisation, particularly in coffee and tea, offer significant opportunities for investors.

Lt. Gen Charles Angina Charge d'Affaires, at Uganda's embassy in Egypt while addressing the delegates who turned up for the Coffee, tea and tourism expo in Egypt. (Courtesy photo)

Angina also outlined Uganda’s tourism potential, citing the country’s diverse climate, landscapes, wildlife and rich cultures.

He explained that Uganda continues to appeal to travellers seeking conservation-focused, community-driven and authentic experiences.

He added that improvements in airports, roads and hospitality infrastructure reflect the government’s commitment to elevating the sector.

Agro-industrialisation in the coffee sector

Uganda remains Africa’s leading exporter of robusta coffee and is increasingly recognised as a producer of high-quality Arabica grown at high altitude.

The global demand for speciality and traceable coffee continues to grow, and Uganda is well-positioned to meet this demand due to its favourable climate, fertile soils and a more professionalised farmer base.

He emphasised that the greatest opportunity lies in value addition, as most coffee is still exported in raw form. He encouraged investment in processing, roasting, packaging and branding.

Sindiso Ngwenya (2nd left) the President and Chairman of the Transform Africa Development Agency smelling the aroma of Uganda's coffee while Gen Angina (2nd right) looks on. (Courtesy photo)

He added that agro-industrial parks and export processing zones provide incentives such as tax holidays, duty-free importation of machinery and institutional support from coffee development programmes and MAAIF.

Agro-industrialisation in the tea sector

Uganda’s tea industry, known for its high-quality black tea, is undergoing a steady transformation. With ideal growing conditions in districts such as Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, Bushenyi, Kanungu and Zombo, the country enjoys year-round production.

The expo also highlighted the strong cooperation between Uganda and Egypt, with businesses, researchers and investors exchanging ideas. Both countries reaffirmed commitments to deepen trade, knowledge exchange and tourism linkages.

Trade

In 2023, trade between Uganda and Egypt amounted to 141 million dollars. Egyptian exports to Uganda stood at $109 million dollars, while Uganda’s exports to Egypt were valued at $32 million.

Uganda mainly exports coffee, tea, dairy products, spices and raw tobacco, while Egypt exports iron and steel, plastics, sugar and confectionery, cereals and pharmaceuticals.

Uganda’s exports to Egypt have grown by 25 percent annually since 2018. Remittances from Egyptians working in Uganda reached $4.8 million, while Ugandans in Egypt sent home $1 million.

Tourism

UTB public affairs manager Dr Simplicious Gessa said the expo offered Uganda an opportunity to showcase the synergy between its premium agricultural products and its diverse tourism experiences.

He noted that Uganda’s coffee and tea regions are also rich tourism corridors with culture, nature and community attractions.

Some officials from Uganda's tourism sector who attended the coffee, tea and tourism expo in Egypt. (Courtesy photo)

He said Uganda’s participation generated strong engagement with Egyptian travel operators, investors and consumers, strengthening Uganda’s position as a prime destination for leisure, business and agro-tourism.

He added that UTB is committed to translating these connections into increased tourist arrivals, expanded market access and deeper bilateral ties.

In August 2025, President Yoweri Museveni held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, focusing on trade and investment.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements across sectors, including agro-processing, manufacturing, mining, energy and pharmaceuticals.

In September 2025, Uganda’s ambassadors and heads of missions held a five-day retreat in Gulu aimed at positioning Uganda as a tourism destination and a viable hub for industrialisation and investment.

Addressing the ambassadors, UTB chief executive officer Juliana Kagwa said tourism is expected to grow twenty-five-fold under NDP IV. She noted that if the sector currently earns $1.28 billion, it should generate more than $20 billion by 2040.

NDP IV (2025/26 to 2029/30) targets ten-fold economic growth by doubling the size of the economy every five years. The strategy focuses on agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral development, including oil and gas, and science, technology and innovation.

Margaret Kafeero, head of public diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the newly launched economic and commercial diplomacy handbook allocates sh120 billion annually to embassies, missions abroad and the ministry headquarters to promote Uganda’s priority growth sectors.

According to the handbook, the annual allocation will address capacity constraints and support coordinated activities among partner entities.

It emphasises the role of missions abroad as key drivers of opportunities in tourism, agro-industrialisation, mineral development, science and technology, which are expected to drive Uganda’s economic growth over the next fifteen years.