NTUNGAMO, Uganda: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni awarded six outstanding entrepreneurs and industrialists for their contribution to Uganda’s economic transformation at the Mustard Seed Awards 2025, held at Africa Coffee Park in Rwashameire, Ntungamo District.
The event, organized by Inspire Africa Coffee, celebrated 40 years of growth and was part of the President’s third project inspection visit to Africa Coffee Park, a 150-acre state-of-the-art industrial hub positioned to become the largest coffee-processing and value-addition center in Eastern and Central Africa.
The award recipients included, among others, 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, Chief Executive Officer of Zero Waste; and Barak Orland, Chief Executive Officer of BAR Aviation.
In his remarks, President Museveni, who was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, congratulated the awardees and highlighted Uganda’s export earnings, which, for the first time, exceeded the import bill, attributing this achievement to value addition.
“I’m so glad that many people are waking up, and the rebirth of knowledge is now making sense. People like Nelson Tugume [CEO of Inspire Africa Coffee] are very useful after being provoked by my message. That is why we have supported and shall continue to support them,” he said.
Referring to the four factors of production (land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship), which are the basis for the production of goods and services, the President called on the people to focus mainly on entrepreneurship, describing it as the major coordinator.
However, the President warned against uncontrolled hemorrhage (ekyejwiso/ekikulukuto), which he said is a major problem in Africa.
“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 a quarter of the land area of Africa and has 300 million people, has a GDP of $32 trillion,” he said.
“It’s a shame that such a small country can be 30 times richer than us.”
The President saluted Mr. Tugume and all his colleagues at Inspire Africa Coffee for not only exemplifying his wealth creation message but also for unlocking the potential of coffee husk organic fertilizer at the establishment to improve soil structure for long-term productivity.
President Museveni also expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support during the recently concluded presidential elections and the election of NRM leaders.
On her part, Maama Janet commended Mr. Tugume and Inspire Africa Coffee for its job creation potential. She noted that the massive investment in the coffee value chain has set a new trajectory for the sector.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, in celebration of President Museveni’s resounding victory, thanked the people of Ntungamo for making history by securing the second-highest vote tally in the country, after Isingiro District.
“This is a result of the trust people have in President Museveni’s good leadership and the progress our country continues to make,” he noted.
Rt. Hon. Tayebwa thanked Mr. Tugume for establishing a fertilizer plant that will provide affordable fertilizers to farmers, boosting coffee yields and improving livelihoods. He further appreciated the creation of a coffee resort to promote coffee tourism and the transformation Inspire Africa Coffee has brought to the coffee sector.
The Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, appreciated President Museveni’s wealth creation philosophy, which has empowered Ugandans to engage in meaningful development. Hon. Babalanda further applauded the stewardship of Mr. Tugume, who has demonstrated a significant testimony of the power of vision, perseverance, and faith in one’s country.
Driven by conviction and enthusiasm, Hon. Babalanda revealed that what began as a heartfelt conversation between a son and his mother about coffee prices at their farm in 2018 has now exposed coffee from the regions of Buganda, Kigezi, Ankole, and Bugisu to the shelves of Turkey, the USA, and China.
“This is how nations arise when private ambitions align with national purpose,” she said.
The Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero, on behalf of all scientists and innovators, hailed President Museveni for his full support, which has enabled the sector to attain tangible results.
“Science is now visible, and its impact on the economy can be understood by many,” she remarked.
Mr. Tugume, a second-generation coffee farmer who followed in the footsteps of his late father, highlighted the remarkable resilience he has shown to achieve success.
“I am so grateful to you, Your Excellency. This dream wouldn’t have taken shape had it not been for you,” he said.
The Inspire Africa Coffee project is aligned with Uganda’s 4th National Development Plan (NDP IV 2025/26–2029/30). With coffee identified as one of six priority agricultural value chains for value addition, the project aims to shift Uganda from being a bulk coffee exporter to a high-value coffee producer and increase Uganda’s coffee value from USD 2 billion to USD 5 billion by 2030.
Earlier in the day, President Museveni and the First Lady toured the fertilizer production plant on the shores of Lake Nyabihoko. The President later addressed an unstoppable victory rally organized to celebrate his recent election victory.
