President Yoweri Museveni hasflagged off three containers carrying 11 tons of dried chili from Uganda to China, praising the Asian nation for its leadership in supporting Africa’s agri-business initiatives.
The ceremony, held at Bunambo Village in Namasagali Sub-county, Kamuli District, brought together top government officials, diplomats, investors, and local farmers, who hailed the event as a historic breakthrough for Busoga and Uganda’s agro-export sector.
President Museveni described China as one of Uganda’s “most reliable and respectful partners” and emphasized that the chili export deal aligns with the country’s broader strategy of agro-industrialization and value addition.
He called chili a “gold crop” with the potential to transform household incomes in Busoga, a region long challenged by poverty.
Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, described the event as the culmination of years of lobbying, cooperation agreements, and groundwork with Chinese partners.
She reminded the President of pledges to extend electricity to farming areas and establish an industrial park to boost value-addition initiatives.
H.E. Zhang Lizhong, Ambassador of China to Uganda, congratulated the people of Busoga and Uganda, noting that the inaugural chili export reflects the strong diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
According to the Ambassador, bilateral trade had reached USD 1.3 billion by August 2025, a 41% increase compared to the previous year.
In a parallel milestone, President Museveni commissioned a USD 50 million cassava starch processing plant in Namasagali, Kamuli District.
Spearheaded by Ugandan scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Matthias Magoola under Dei BioPharma Ltd., the facility marks the first phase of what is projected to become Africa’s largest industrial park for pharmaceutical and food-grade processing, advancing Uganda’s industrialization and pharmaceutical self-reliance ambitions.
By Our Reporter
21st Nov 2025
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