Uganda is known for its rich agricultural landscape, producing some of the finest coffee, tea, and cocoa beans on the continent. What many people aren’t aware of, however, is that Uganda is also a leading exporter of vanilla.

Uganda is currently exporting over 400MT of vanilla a year which is more than 50% production increment in a period of 5years.

According to Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB), Uganda exported 89.038 Tons of cured vanilla worth USD 8.33 million (30.5 billion shillings) by March, 2023.

Ugandan vanilla is a unique and highly sought-after product, simmering with natural flavors and fragrance that is exclusive from other vanilla products in the world. It’s been described as “exquisite,” “delicious,” and “distinctive” by those who have had the pleasure of tasting it. It is for this matter that Ugandan vanilla exporters signed huge deals to export the product to Serbia during the opening of the Uganda Connect trade hub in Belgrade in July this year.

Simon Musisi, Chief Executive Officer of The Simons Uga Limited dealing in premium quality vanilla is one of those who signed deals. He is a processor and exporter of vanilla beans, powder and vanilla pure extracts. “Vanilla processing requires a production team of persons who are trained and experts in that field in order to achieve a higher vanillin and good quality vanilla that can match the global standards of the international food industry.” he says. His major export market is USA and Europe.

The major markets for Uganda’s Vanilla include; USA, Indonesia, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Belgium, South Africa, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, Mauritius, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Denmark, Check Republic, Switzerland and Republic of Korea.

One of the unique qualities of Ugandan vanilla is its hand-picked, thanks to farmers harvesting plants only when they reach maturity, using traditional and time-honored techniques to guarantee the quality of their crops. This dedication to quality ensures that the product is of high value to consumers who seek natural and unique products, which gives Uganda a competitive edge in the global market.

Uganda, the second-largest exporter of vanilla in Africa behind Madagascar, has various suitable growing conditions for vanilla, making it possible to produce a substantial and consistent quantity of vanilla beans every year. The country has two vanilla seasons, the June-July harvest and December-January harvest. The districts of Kayunga, Mukono, Mpigi, Jinja, Kmauli, Bundibugyo, Luwero and Kasese are the biggest vanilla growing regions in Uganda. Vanilla production of vanilla in Uganda is picking up, and farmers are working tirelessly to meet the growing demand for this natural and delectable ingredient.

Vanilla is a significant source of income for many small-scale farmers in Uganda. It provides a valuable opportunity for economic growth and stability in communities across the country. Musisi provides employment to thousands of people during the two seasons of vanilla harvesting. “We directly work with more than 2000 farmers and over 10,000 farmers through general suppliers.”

Vanilla production is an ideal business for farmers in Uganda because it requires a relatively small amount of land and can be grown alongside other crops. This makes it an affordable crop for small-scale farmers who may not have access to a lot of land.

When it comes standards, Musisi says he does not compromise on quality as he always exports the best that meets regional and international standards. “Vanilla is a raw material for the food industry, quality is a major requirement. Therefore, global food standards are mandatory. This is a major challenge that we have tackled through training our farmers and general suppliers to consider good agricultural practices. For example, farmers should not use pesticides on their vanilla farms or intercropping their vanilla gardens with crops that require pesticides, the farmers must harvest their vanilla after maturity and on proper harvest dates,” he emphasizes.

It is because of practices like these that Ugandan vanilla offers unique and exceptional taste and is highly valued in the global market. Uganda’s vanilla industry has transformed into a profitable export, driving economic growth and providing opportunities for local farmers. However, stakeholders must address challenges related to sustainability and market volatility to ensure the long-term growth and success of the industry.

Vanilla is one of the thirteen priority sectors the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) under the leadership of its Chairman, Odrek Rwabwogo, is working with to grow Uganda’s exports revenue to USD6B and beyond by 2028.

On the sidelines of the Uganda-Algeria Trade, Investment Forum & Exhibition that was held at Hotel Africana over the weekend, the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) hosted the Algerian delegation to a dinner, with the aim of fostering collaboration and expanding trade opportunities between business groups from both countries.

The dinner, at Sheraton Hotel Kampala on Saturday evening at the end of Day One of the three-day forum, kick-started an evening where the Algerian delegation led by their Minister of Trade and Export Promotion, Tayeb Zitouni, were treated to a bit more of Ugandan culture and hospitality.

At the dinner, guests were presented with an opportunity to have further business discussions with Ugandan exporters who are interested in their sectors.

There were brief speeches from PACEID Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo, Olive Kigongo-President National Chamber of Commerce, Geraldine Ssali-Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Alintuma Nsambu-Uganda’s Ambassador to Algeria, Hon. Harriet Ntabazi-Minister of State for Trade and Prof. Rev. Florence Muranga from the Ugandan side. H.E. Oualid Cherif- Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Algeria to Uganda and Zakaria Bourennane spoke on behalf of the foreign delegation sharing insights and potential collaboration prospects.

Uganda’s Trade Representative for the Balkan region, Bratislav Stoiljkovic was present and thanked PACEID Chairman Rwabwogo for the initiatives the committee is putting in place to grow exports and achieve the USD6B target by 2028.

At the end of the night, Algerians were not only treated to a sumptuous meal but also presented with gifts from PACEID about Uganda.

The head of the Algerian delegation was gifted a hand-woven banana fibre design of an Ankole long-horned cow from Western Uganda while others got hand woven banana fibre gift boxes that can be used as a centerpiece for fruits or ladies jewelry.

In each package, there was a hand woven throw-on and samples of Ugandan products for export like coffee from Great Lakes Coffee, Tooke flour from Banana Industrial and Research Development Centre (BIRDC), powdered milk and dried pineapple from Zahra Food Industries Ltd, all packaged in 100 percent cotton bags branded with a strip of bark cloth. On the gift cards, there were some of Uganda’s animals including Buffalos, Crested Crane, tree climbing lions, Gorillas and Elephants among others.

Day one of the Uganda-Algeria Trade and Investment Forum & Exhibition kicked off today, Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Hotel Africana with delegates from both countries advocating for value addition and mutual respect for quality requirements. The forum will run throughout the weekend until Monday, October 2, 2023, under the theme; “Harnessing Benefits of AfCTA; Strengthening Bilateral Trade Relations Between Uganda and Algeria”.

The forum is being organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives in partnership with the National Chamber of Commerce, the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with support from the Uganda Marketers Society.

The Uganda Algeria-Business and Investment Forum aims to unite trade & investment policymakers, key business groups, trade institutions, and regional organizations from both Uganda and Algeria.

Geraldine Ssali, Permanent Secretary-Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives thanked the Algerian government for their cordiality. “Whenever we come to Algeria, we feel at home. I began to say Algeria is a home away from home for me. Thank you so much. We would like you to also feel at home.” she said.

She also expressed willingness to give Algerians free economic zones so that they can enjoy competitive prices from Ugandan producers so they don’t feel the pinch of high costs of production when they come.

“If we work with Algeria, gone will be the days of looking for a funder for our oil because they are self-sufficient in the oil and gas sector.” H.E. Alintuma Nsambu, Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to Algeria noted.

H.E. Oualid Cherif, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Algeria to Uganda was pleased that the efforts between the two countries were crowned with the holding of what he referred to as a ‘historical’ forum. “This development comes as a translation of the strong will demonstrated by our two heads of state, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Mr. Yoweri Museveni, to further enhance these relations in the commercial and investment fields. Like Uganda, Algeria advocates for value addition to its raw materials and the diversification of its economy and its earnings by promoting the non-hydrocarbon exports and boosting the local production of goods and services,” he said.  

Mr. Odrek Rwabwogo, Chairman- of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development reiterated H.E. Oualid’s point regarding value addition as this will go a long way to boost trade relations between the two nations.

He also urged Ugandan exporters to be intentional by researching new markets to avoid entering them blindly.  “We need to be very intentional, very deliberate from studying the tastes & preferences of our brothers in Algeria & other markets we want to export to & ensure we know what to supply them in terms of standards, quantities and certification”. PACEID is tasked with growing Uganda’s exports to USD6Bn by 2028.

The President of the National Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Olive Kigongo encouraged Ugandan business people to explore Algeria and discover the opportunities it offers to gain a competitive advantage.

Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries said, “Opportunities abound in Uganda. We invite you not only to engage in trade with us but also to actively participate in the value-addition process.”

Miss Ndstefai Khaoula from the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency guided Ugandan traders through the company registration process for trading with Algeria, including the duration of the investment period offered to licensees. “The Algerian Investment Promotion Agency is actively engaged in promoting investment, providing information, streamlining registration procedures, and managing the associated benefits.” – she said.

Others present were Dr. Francis Mwebesa- Cabinet Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Harriet Ntabazi, Amb. Katureebe Tayebwa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, John Mulimba-State Minister of State for Regional Affairs.

The Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) in conjunction with the Department of Industrial Training (DIT) at the Ministry of Education and Sports, on Saturday, graduated 700 people in the fields of fruit processing, vanilla growing and packing, plumbing and electrification, carpentry and joinery, liquid and bar soap making and mushroom growing. Other services included hair dressing, effluent extraction and treatment, baking technology and application, media and photography. The function which was attended by Patrick Byakatonda, Director General of DIT, Sheikhs Serunjogi and Mohammed Kyazze of Kayunga and Kawempe respectively, Bishop Lwandasa of Mt. Lebanon church in Mukono, took place at Kawempe Muslim Primary School in Kampala.

Presiding over the graduation ceremony which brought together students from Tororo, Amuru, Mbarara, Masaka, Jinja, Kamuli and Kampala districts, Odrek Rwabwogo, Chairman of PACEID, thanked minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni for allowing DIT to skill people who would otherwise be left out of the system yet are very good employees in the export and industry services or being own job makers. “I thank her for recognizing these skills of talented youth who ordinarily feel left out by Ivy League universities and technical colleges that their parents cannot afford”, he said.  He added, “it will take Africa some high-level investment in 25 training institutions of the size of Makerere University annually to be set up and funded for the next 50 years, in order for Africa catch up with the level of industrial and tertiary skills penetration India alone has gained in the last 30 years! How shall we then make it and compete in the world for the 200 million jobs that China is shedding off by 2040 to lower-level manufacturing, if we do not see these soft skills and certify them so they can be recognized globally?” Rwabwogo asked.

Rwabwogo went on, “it is even feels more special to us as PACEID to be graduating these young people to support our effort on aggregation and low-level processing of products for exports like vanilla, avocado, and pineapples from here in Kawempe. This area (Kawempe and Bwaise) along with Kasokoso (Kireka-Banda) along with Mulago and Kamwokya, seem to attract more rural to urban migration than many parts of the city. How will our country make use of this agricultural labour flocking into cities in search of better living conditions yet end up in slums and some in crime? We must be intentional in re-skilling them to do a better job than where they come from?”

He said Africa will be the most urbanizing continent in the world with 500 million Africans living in cities by 2040, according to the latest Mckinsey and company, a global consulting firm, report and Uganda remains one of the highest population growing countries in the world with over 70 percent below 30.

Byakatonda said, “The DIT certificates you receive today are really the ground level qualification to start with. You must put the skills gained here and use this certificate for both finding work or looking to start your own businesses. You however, need to keep training so that you get a higher-level certification”. Referring to Mr. Ahmed Kiggundu of the Glad 18 group based in Bwaise, who graduated in specialized cesspool emptying for crowded parts of the city, Byakatonda added, “we certify services such as National water and sewerage service workers. There is no reason why you as Glad 18, shouldn’t now find work across the country in emerging urban areas”.

Ahmed Kiggundu told the audience, “I had been a stone thrower and a collector of old tyres for burning in the streets during riots and giving hard time to security services until I discovered I could do something, even if it was dirty as emptying toilets, but it gives me legitimate income. Now I am very happy that I have a certificate along with 150 other members of my group.”

PACEID and DIT promised to go across the country and train more youths to support aggregating products for exports and getting better labour services for factories and the service sector in urban areas. President Yoweri Museveni under the state house skilling programme has been giving equipment and machinery for organized groups to improve their skills and trade on the domestic market better.

Sheikh Kyazze, the son of Sheikh Swaibu Semakula the first Mufti of Uganda, who began the school in 1920, asked the Government to prioritize rehabilitation of the school and the mosque as some of the national historical centers for the country’s tourism and education. “I call upon our beloved President Yoweri Museveni whose friend, the late Zubairi Bakari was one of the religious children of Sheikh Swaibu Semakula, to help us complete the portion of the mosque that requires UGX150m” said Sheikh Kyaaze.

The Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) was commissioned by H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on March 16th, 2022. PACEID acts as a think tank that advises H.E the President on the strategic and systemic interventions aimed at accelerating exports growth and industrial development for national transformation. PACEID, under the stewardship of Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo, is tasked with improving Uganda’s foreign earnings from the current USD 6BN to USD 12BN and beyond from the prioritized thirteen (13) key products; Coffee, Tea, Fruits & Vegetables, Beef, Dairy, Grains, Sugar, Fish, Banana Flour, Flowers, Tourism, Cement and Steel.  

Coordinated under the Office of the President, PACEID is specifically charged with among others advising H.E the President on practical ways and means of addressing the strategic and operational bottlenecks that impede Uganda from fully harnessing its industrial and export potential.  

As a new approach to export markets, PACEID in partnership with various stakeholders has rolled out a succession of trade, investment and tourism summits hosted in various countries within the East African region, rest of Africa and the world to identify off-takers of the 13 priority exports. So far, PACEID has held five of such successful trade missions; the Uganda-DRC Summit in May 2022 in Goma, the Uganda-South Sudan Summit in Juba in July 2022, the UK-Uganda Business Summit in London, September 2022, the US-UG International Trade Summit & Exhibition in Chicago in December 2022 and the Uganda-South Africa Business Summit in Pretoria in February 2023. These summits feature exhibitions, panel discussions, expert presentations and B2B sessions where participants from the public and private sectors network, share opportunities and identify strategies to position Ugandan products and services internationally and attract potential investors to Uganda.

PACEID has also introduced the concept of Ugandan Trade Representatives (TRs) in targeted markets. TRs are selected for their independent personalities, passion and interest in promoting Uganda’s products and services. To date, the PACEID Committee has appointed five TRs in key export markets; Justin Katoto for the Democratic Republic of Uganda (DRC), Cody Lorance and Olivier Kamanzi (both USA), Mark Pursey for UK, Bratislav Stoiljkovic for the Balkan region (south-east Europe) and Sam Montsi for South Africa. TRs provide technical expertise to help Uganda penetrate new regional and international export markets.

Last month, the exports advisory committee organized a two-days Trade Representatives Forum (TRF) where all relevant public and private sector institutions in the export space gathered to develop a singular view of what Uganda needs to achieve the USD 6BN target. Running under the theme ‘COORDINATION TO DRIVE UGANDA’S EXPORT TARGETS THROUGH TRADE REPRESENTATION’, the TRF was held at State House Entebbe on March 28^th, 2023 and the OPM Conference Centre on March 29^th, 2023 respectively. While at State House- Entebbe, President Museveni expressed his gratitude towards the TRs for their efforts to link Uganda with the big export markets they represent.

After, the TRs had the opportunity to visit key tourism destinations such as Murchison Falls National Park in Masindi and production sites including Tooke in Bushenyi, Ho and Mu Food Technology Company Ltd in Kapeeka, Sseko Designs in Bweyogerere and Zahra Food Industries Limited in Namave Industrial Park.

During the TRF, it was announced that Uganda will be opening a trade center for the Balkans region based in Belgrade, Serbia in June 2023. The center will sell Uganda coffee, bananas, chocolate, grains, and tourism in the region and it will be used as a staging ground for the six Balkan nations of central-southern Europe.

Following this, the Serbian Minister of Internal and Foreign Trade, Hon. Tomislav Momirovic and his delegation which includes Milos Adamovic (Assistant Minister), Marco Obradovic (Assistant Minister) and Uganda’s Trade Representative, Mr. Bratislav Stoiljkovic, will arrive in the country on April 18, 2023, to meet H.E. the President the next day Wednesday, April 19, 2023, from 11am to 3pm at State House Entebbe.

The purpose of the visit is to deliver the invitation of the President of Serbia, H.E. Aleksander Vucic to President Yoweri Museveni for the latter to open the Uganda Trade center in June 2023.

The event will also witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, United Nations development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, to operationalize and match the President’s export fund for coffee, fruits & vegetables, dairy, beef, Tourism and other products, to USD30M. The fund is for invoice underwriting for exporters to the new markets. This fund will address the financing bottlenecks that have directly been affecting export performance in priority sectors like agriculture and manufacturing.

H.E. Museveni is also expected to make a special Broadcast on the Tourism sector where Uganda is targeting USD1.5bn new revenue by 2027.  

The First US-Uganda International Trade Summit and Exhibition 2022, ended yesterday Sunday 18 December 2022 at the Renaissance Hotel Downtown Chicago with a commitment to off-take of several Ugandan products, investment in some of the firms that exhibited, and a promise to help Uganda design an export credit Fund, unique to our level and intensity of trade and export needs.

The grain sector signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an Ohio-based company owned by an indigenous Somali American to buy sim-sim, sorghum, maize, and other raw materials for breakfast cereal grains from Uganda. The Kapeeka-based Namunkekera dried fruits firm got expressions of interest from an African American firm interested in taking stock in the company while the tourism sector got a boost from Mike Patel of Walton International Capital who promised to invest in hotel chains in the game parks in Uganda and also help open up to 6800 hotels for supply of premium Ugandan coffee from companies such as Endiro Coffee and Mountain, the sector exporters and retailers who exhibited in Chicago.

Several other inquiries in the leather sector including a potential order for more than 1000 pairs from Sseko Designs, a fashion firm that exports to the US under the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) were made. The purpose of the three-day trade summit which was opened by President Yoweri Museveni was to introduce key Ugandan products such as coffee, chocolate, banana flour, apparel, beef, vanilla and dairy etc. to American consumers, investors, and retailers, expose Ugandan firms to potential partners and also find new ways to raise funding for the export credit fund for Ugandan exporters to the western market and within the region.

Ugandan companies with support from the African Global Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) led by Dr. Olivier Kamanzi, Uganda’s Trade Representative in Chicago will begin training early next year in standardization, market research, communication, and certification to be able to gain better entry into the US market. The summit which was organized by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) and partly supported by the United Nations Development Program office in Kampala, attracted more than 200 people and 26 Ugandan firms. It was closed by the Uganda Ambassador to the US, Robbie Kakonge.

Odrek  Rwabwogo, Chair of PACEID rallied Ugandans in the Diaspora to come together and start a distribution company for Ugandan products. “There is no way we will sell products here in any sustained way even if we don’t create enough awareness, without a good distribution network that understands Ugandan food products and focuses first on the ethnic markets that understand our foods and later broadly changing the tastes and preferences of many Americans. This is what will help us scale faster as Ugandan firms here” he said.

The summit was attended by Francis Mwebesa- Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Geraldine Ssali, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Trade, Susana Muhwezi, the Presidential Advisor on AGOA, the office of the Governor of Illinois and many Ugandan diasporas and American business community engaged in food processing, off-take, capital and logistics.