In a significant milestone for Ugandan agriculture and trade, The Simons Uga Ltd, a vanilla exporting company, has successfully shipped 10 metric tons of vanilla extraction grade to the United States, valued at $400,000 (UGX 1,476,814,400). This shipment, which arrived in Chicago, USA last month (November), marks a pivotal moment for the company as it continues to expand its footprint in the lucrative North American market.

The company CEO Simon Musisi has also set up a warehouse for the product in Delaware and is now able to distribute Ugandan vanilla across the USA and Canada which he says has allowed them to negotiate for better prices. “This choice has been equally very important for our entire value chain, starting with the farmers because they’re now assured of reasonable prices for their vanilla. In the same regard, more foreign exchange is to be realized because of the better prices we have been able to negotiate for.”

Mr. Musisi has expressed his gratitude to the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) for connecting The Simons Uga Ltd with its U.S. off-taker. “Without the support and introduction from PACEID, this achievement would not have been possible. Their assistance has been invaluable in helping us navigate the complexities of international trade and establish strong relationships with buyers in the U.S.”

He adds, “PACEID has supported us since 2022 and its involvement in growing Uganda’s exports has increased our sales in the US.”

The Simons Uga Ltd anticipates to increase the volumes of vanilla exported to the US in 2025 to over 40 MT. This ambitious goal reflects Musisi’s confidence in the growing demand for high-quality Ugandan vanilla and the company’s ability to meet that demand.

“The Ugandan Vanilla industry is promising and if our farmers are well equipped with the right information on vanilla farming and good agricultural practices are observed, we shall take on the global market by surprise because our quality in terms of vanillin is superior. Uganda needs to increase its vanilla production to meet the global market demand.” Says Mr. Musisi.

The Simons Uga Ltd’s shipment of vanilla extraction grade to the United States marks a significant achievement for the company and the Ugandan vanilla industry.