Uganda’s Coffee Enters Saudi Arabia as VP Alupo Launches Nonda Café in Riyadh

Vice-President Jessica Alupo presided over the launch of Nonda Coffee’s first single-origin café and roastery in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking a historic milestone for Uganda’s coffee sector and positioning the country as a value-added exporter in the Middle East.

Value Addition at the Heart of the Push

Speaking during the commissioning, Alupo said the initiative signals Uganda’s shift from exporting raw beans to delivering branded, roasted coffee that retains more value at home.
“This project is not only about coffee. It redefines Uganda’s place in global trade; exporting value, identity, and culture, not just commodities,” she said, noting that the government remains committed to industrialization and export diversification.

The Riyadh opening is part of a US$148 million Value-at-Source Coffee Project under a partnership between Nonda Commodities Uganda and Saudi investors. The program is expected to roll out 50 cafés across Saudi Arabia, with a processing hub, the Luwero Coffee Park, taking shape back home to handle roasting, packaging, and branding for export markets.

Driving Household Income and Jobs

During engagements held between October 29–30, 2025, Alupo linked the investment to Uganda’s wealth-creation agenda. She said millions of farming households stand to benefit as commercial agriculture, value addition, and export-focused farming deepen.
“In Uganda today, 33 percent of households are still outside the money economy. Our being here is fundamental because we are going to reduce this number as many will join commercial agriculture,” she noted.

Nonda Commodities CEO, Tonny Miiro Kibuuka, said the venture will unlock new markets for Ugandan farmers while strengthening national capacity in agro-processing. He explained that the partnership will increase opportunities for rural job creation, industrial linkages, and export-driven growth, all anchored on branding Uganda’s coffee as a global premium product.

A New Frontier in the Gulf

The project also includes plans for a Jazan Coffee Terminal in Saudi Arabia to support regional distribution. Officials say the strategy will enable Uganda to penetrate the Gulf and Asian markets more competitively, moving the country closer to its export-earnings target.

By establishing a presence in Riyadh’s premium coffee market, Uganda positions itself to benefit from growing consumption across the Gulf, where specialty coffee culture has accelerated in recent years. Government officials say the initiative reflects the country’s broader effort to strengthen South–South trade and deepen diplomacy through high-value exports.