Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Officiating on behalf of His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, the Vice President of Uganda, Jessica Alupo launched Uganda’s first Single-Origin Coffee Café in Riyadh. Nonda Coffee, a brand of Nonda Commodities Uganda Limited, marked a historic step in positioning Uganda’s coffee on the global premium stage.
This café, located in the heart of Riyadh, is the first of 50 outlets planned across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the Value-at-Source Coffee Project: a transformative bilateral initiative jointly implemented by Nonda Commodities Uganda Limited and INJAZ International Holding Group (Saudi Arabia), with full support from the Government of Uganda.
In her remarks, the Vice President emphasised that Uganda’s coffee expansion into the Middle East reflects the convergence of two pillars of the national development agenda, commercial agriculture and industrial processing. She noted that by exporting processed coffee rather than raw beans, Uganda is advancing its goal of integrating smallholder farmers into the money economy, while building a sustainable path for inclusive growth. She highlighted the government’s focus on the four sectors of wealth creation, agriculture, industry, services, and ICT, adding that the Riyadh launch demonstrates these priorities in practice. “Every cup of Nonda Coffee served abroad carries the story of Uganda’s farmers, innovation, and partnerships,” she stated, underscoring the strategic value of this achievement.
Mr. Tonny Miiro Kibuuka, CEO of Nonda Commodities Ltd, reaffirmed the project’s vision, noting that Nonda Coffee’s presence in Riyadh will create jobs, expand market linkages, and strengthen Uganda’s reputation as a producer of premium coffee. He added that Nonda Coffee is the first Ugandan company to secure both an Investment and Commercial License in Saudi Arabia, reflecting Uganda’s growing competitiveness and investor confidence.
Under the same partnership, Uganda is preparing to launch the Luwero Coffee Park, a flagship facility expected to process 35,000 metric tons of coffee annually, making it one of Africa’s largest value-addition centers. By serving Uganda’s finest specialty coffee in the Gulf, Nonda Coffee connects African excellence with Middle Eastern hospitality, celebrating the power of value addition, collaboration, and innovation.
