𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗡𝗘𝗖 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗨𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮’𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗼-𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵

President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned a state-of-the-art meat and beans processing factory in Katonga, Gomba District, marking another significant milestone in Uganda’s journey towards industrialisation and value addition in agriculture.

The facility, owned by the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC)—the commercial arm of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF)—is a joint investment with Kenyan entrepreneur Francis Ragwa. It is expected to strengthen Uganda’s agro-processing sector, reduce food imports, create sustainable markets for livestock and bean farmers, and support the country’s ambitious economic transformation agenda.

The factory will process canned beef and beans primarily for the UPDF and other institutional buyers while also serving regional and international export markets. By replacing imported products with locally processed alternatives, the investment reinforces the government’s commitment to promoting local manufacturing, creating employment opportunities, and increasing farmers’ incomes through value addition.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, President Museveni highlighted Uganda’s impressive agricultural progress, noting that the country is now Africa’s leading coffee producer.

“Uganda is now the biggest producer of coffee in Africa,” President Museveni said. “The issue of the supply of the required raw materials is just organisational.”

The President explained that Uganda has already demonstrated its strong production capacity across key sectors, including coffee, dairy, and livestock. According to him, the priority is no longer increasing production but ensuring farmers have access to reliable and profitable markets.

He revealed that Uganda’s annual coffee production has grown from approximately three million bags to about nine million bags, with projections to reach 12 million bags in the near future and eventually rise to 20 million bags.

President Museveni also highlighted remarkable growth in the dairy and livestock industries. Annual milk production has increased from about 200 million litres in 1986 to approximately 5.4 billion litres, while the national cattle population has expanded from around three million to nearly 16 million head of cattle.

Emphasising the importance of market-driven production, the President noted that expanding access to dependable markets remains the key to unlocking Uganda’s full agricultural and economic potential.

“What remains is to streamline production because the real stimulus is the market,” he said. “Once I am sure about the market, I can mobilise Ugandans using the correct economics.”

The commissioning of the NEC meat and beans processing factory represents another strategic investment in Uganda’s industrialisation agenda, positioning the country to enhance food processing, strengthen export competitiveness, and accelerate inclusive economic growth through value addition.