Uganda’s Vice President, Her Excellency Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, has launched the country’s first Single-Origin Coffee Franchise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Located at the heart of Riyadh, Nonda Coffee Shop and Roastery marks a historic milestone in Uganda’s coffee journey, bringing the country’s finest single-origin beans to the global stage. The shop will serve premium Ugandan coffee to a cosmopolitan audience of residents, business travellers, and millions of international visitors who frequent Saudi Arabia for commerce, pilgrimage, tourism, and investment. It is the first among many to be rolled out across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In her remarks, Hon. Alupo noted that the launch of the Nonda Coffee Shop and Roastery in Saudi Arabia marks a significant milestone for Uganda, as it not only opens up new markets for Ugandan coffee but also creates employment opportunities for Ugandans and inspires smallholder farmers to scale up into commercial production.
“I would like to extend my appreciation to Nonda Commodities and Ingazi group for this initiative. In Uganda, we have four sectors where there are jobs and wealth. These are Commercial Agriculture; Industry/Manufacturing; Services and ICT. Our being in this boardroom is a clear message that the government and people of Saudi Arabia have enabled us to exploit two of these key sectors at ago. That is commercial Agriculture and Industry/Manufacturing because the coffee we are talking about here is processed but also comes from farmers,” she said, adding:
“In Uganda today, 33% of households are still outside the money economy. One of the interventions that government is making is capturing all those households to join the money economy. So, our being here again is very fundamental because we are going to reduce the number of those 33% households outside the money economy as many will join commercial agriculture. We shall also have access to other destinations including China.”
The launch is part of Nonda Coffee’s “Value-at-Source Project,” implemented in partnership with the Saudi-based investment firm Ingazi Group International. The initiative seeks to elevate Uganda’s coffee value chain by deepening processing and branding capacity at origin; ensuring more value remains within the producing communities.
The other key initiative being undertaken under this partnership is the Luwero Coffee Park, which upon completion will process up to 35,000 metric tons of coffee per year, making it one of the largest coffee value addition centers in the country.
“Uganda will soon host a ground-breaking ceremony of the Luwero Coffee Park; a flagship facility that will anchor Africa’s largest coffee processing and value addition plant. The Value-at-Source project championed by Nonda Commodities and Ingazi Group is a shining example of the Uganda-Saudi Arabia Cooperation. So, as we celebrate these milestones, may every cup of Nonda Coffee remind us of our friendship, opportunity and shared future between our two countries,” Hon. Alupo noted.
According to Mr. Tonny Miiro Kibuuka, CEO of Nonda Commodities Ltd, the parent company of Nonda Coffee, this project has the potential to employ thousands of Ugandans and unlock new international opportunities. He emphasized that as the first Ugandan company to secure both an Investment License and a Commercial Registration License from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nonda Coffee is collaborating with like-minded partners to build a future where Uganda’s coffee is globally celebrated while driving prosperity at home.
“Through the Value-at-Source Project, we are spearheading coffee value development, addition, claim, and consolidation. By building win-win partnerships, we are creating dignified and sustainable livelihoods for players across the Coffee Value chain. Our mission goes beyond producing premium, market-ready Ugandan coffee. We are laying the foundation for rural job creation, industrial linkages, and inclusive economic participation that empower communities and strengthen Uganda’s position in the global coffee industry,” he said.
The Value-at-Source Project comes amid record growth in Uganda’s coffee sector. National production rose from 7.8 million 60-kg bags in FY 2022/23 to 8.2 million bags in FY 2023/24, while export earnings jumped from USD 845 million to USD 1.144 billion during the same period, underscoring Uganda’s rising stature as one of the world’s most consistent coffee producers.
Even so, greater investment in value addition remains essential if Uganda is to fully harness the economic potential of its coffee. As such, the success of Nonda Coffee in Riyadh will reflect Uganda’s broader ambition to expand global market access, promote value addition at source, and strengthen South–South investment partnerships anchored on innovation, dignity, and shared prosperity.
