Ugandan businessman Louis Kimuli has urged the government to attract more Italian investors into coffee processing, manufacturing and mineral beneficiation, saying Uganda must move beyond exporting raw materials and capture greater value from its products.
Kimuli said Uganda should leverage its strong trade ties with Italy to attract industrial expertise, technology and capital that would enable local businesses to process, package and export finished products, rather than leave much of the value addition to foreign markets.
“We are no longer just asking Europe to buy our raw beans; we are inviting Italian industrialists to come and roast, package, and process our coffee, milk, and minerals right here at home. Italy consumes a massive share of our coffee, and bringing that processing capacity to Uganda means real jobs for our youth and higher returns for our economy,” Kimuli said.
Uganda’s coffee exports generate billions of dollars in revenue, and the country is seeking to increase its share of the more lucrative processing and manufacturing stages of the supply chain.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda exported 8.8 million 60-kilogramme bags of coffee, earning $2.4 billion in the year ending April 2026. Italy is Uganda’s largest coffee buyer, accounting for approximately a quarter of the country’s coffee exports, according to Uganda’s Commissioner for Coffee, Dr Gerald Kyalo.
These figures highlight the commercial potential for Italian investors to establish roasting, packaging and soluble coffee production facilities in Uganda, closer to the source of raw materials.
Kimuli made the remarks during the inaugural Uganda–Italy Business and Investment Forum, held in Rome on October 13–14 under the theme Unlocking Shared Prosperity. The forum brought together government officials, investors and private sector representatives to explore investment partnerships in agriculture, energy, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and other sectors.
Among those who attended were Humphrey Asiimwe Rwakagiri, chief executive officer of the Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals; Kimoomi Alinda, executive director of the Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotion Authority (UFZEPA); Robert Mukiza, director general of the Uganda Investment Authority; and Diana Battaggia, head of UNIDO ITPO Italy.
As part of Uganda’s investment pitch, UFZEPA presented a 1,031-square-metre production facility in Entebbe to Italian investors, highlighting opportunities for value addition and exports to Italy and the wider European Union market.
However, turning investor interest into tangible projects will require reliable electricity, affordable financing, suitable infrastructure and predictable regulations. Ugandan exporters must also meet European market requirements for product quality and supply-chain traceability to remain competitive.
Attracting Italian investment into local processing and manufacturing could help Uganda create jobs, strengthen domestic industries, increase export earnings and retain a greater share of the value generated from its coffee, dairy products and minerals.