CEO of Inspire Africa Coffee Factory Denies Claims of Presidential Ownership

Ntungamo: The Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Africa Coffee Factory in Ntungamo, Nelson Tugume, has dismissed rumors that his coffee factory is owned by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Tugume made this clarification on December 11 during an oversight visit by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Joel Senyonyi, to the Africa Coffee Park in Rwashamaire, Kajara County, Ntungamo District.

The denial followed a statement by Nakaseke South MP, Paul Luttamaguzi, who claimed that the factory belonged to President Museveni. Tugume clarified that he founded the factory in 2020 and retains full ownership.

He explained that while the government later provided financial support, no other individual holds shares in the project. He credited President Museveni for promoting value addition through technology, research, and innovation, which aligns with the factory’s mission of creating jobs and boosting economic growth.

Hon. Joel Senyonyi urged Inspire Africa to use government funds responsibly and ensure accountability. He noted that some government-funded projects, such as the Lubowa Specialized Hospital and the Roko Construction project, had failed, wasting taxpayer money. He encouraged Tugume to avoid a similar fate and work hard to succeed.

Ntungamo District Woman MP, Hon. Josselyn Bata Kamateneti, praised the government’s efforts to boost the coffee value chain. She called for the establishment of more coffee hubs across Uganda to create jobs for youth and improve coffee prices through value addition.

The Inspire Africa Coffee Factory aims to set a standard for coffee value addition in Uganda and East Africa. The government has allocated $22 million to support these efforts.