Why is Ugandan coffee still largely priced in foreign markets when the farmers, the land, and the story are ours?

At the Uganda Ministry of Foreign Affairs Regional Economic Cooperation Department Retreat on Economic Commercial Diplomacy, Mr. Nelson Tugume challenged Ugandans to think differently. Economic diplomacy must go beyond trade agreements it must help nations capture more value from what they produce.

Uganda’s move into soluble coffee production is a reminder that value addition is possible. The next question is: how do we scale it across agriculture, manufacturing, and exports?

“If we are serious about transforming our economies, we must increase agricultural productivity, invest in our farmers, strengthen institutions, and build markets that reward African enterprise. The future of Africa won’t be determined by what we export it will be determined by what we choose to build. Uganda’s prosperity will be built by Ugandans who take charge of their own economic destiny. What do you think is the single biggest barrier preventing African countries from owning more of their value chains?,” Nelson Tugume.