The President of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, flagged off the first container of chilli grown in Busoga destined for China.
The event took place at Bunambo Village in Namasagali Sub-county, Kamuli District. The President and the First Lady, H.E. Janet Kataaha Museveni, were received by the First Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon Rebecca Kadaga, 3rd Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Nakadama Rukia Isanga, the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong, Hon. Bwino Fred Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr. Mula Anthony Director General Busoga Consortium for Dev’t, investors, and several other dignitaries.
H.E Zhang Lizhong Chinese Ambassador to Uganda congratulated Busoga on flagged off Uganda’s first batch of dried Chili to the Chinese market. He commended the strong and cordial relationship between Uganda and China. He noted that the shipment was a fruit of the 2024 Chilli protocol that had been signed between China and Uganda at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit held in Beijing.
The commended the established cooperation between Busoga Consortium for Development and the China Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park to boost agricultural productivity for household transformation and export to the Chinese market.
The President upon arrival flagged off a consignment of three containers of Dry chilli worth 11 tons ready for export to China.
In his speech, President Museveni termed Chilli as a gold crop that Busoga and Uganda should take this business as a hope and a straight journey to development
“Now these crops Chilli are among the gold mines that we the Africans should start emphasising making business that keeps us selves in kulambaala (sleeping ) the President Noted.
The president further hailed the good relationship between Uganda and China since 1948 which has built these fruits committing to support the project.
On this note, the 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs Rt Hon.Rebbeca Alitwala Kadaga appreciated the President for his continued support to the project calling this flag off a real testament to Busoga’s economic transformation
“We began this project years back when we signed a cooperation with China and am. Excited to see this day that the President is flagging off the first container, this is a true reflection of the theme that we are promoting of protecting the gains” Kadaga Said
She later reminded the President of the pending pledges including the extension of Power to the community and farming the areas as an industrial park.
The Chinese Ambassador to Uganda H.E. Zhang Lizhong congratulated Kehong Industrial Development Ltd also known as the China-Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park as well as Busoga and Uganda at large on the flagged off 1st Chilli Container to the Chinese market.
The Chinese Ambassador further noted that China had declared zero-tariff treatment for 98% of taxable imports from Uganda especially Agricultural products. He encouraged the people of Busoga and Uganda to take advantage of the policy to facilitate mutual trade benefits between the two Countries.
He thanked the President of Uganda for the role played in facilitating the deepening of cooperation between the two Countries to a more strategic level.
Furthermore, the Chairman of the 3 has been involved in setting up the Industrial Park since its establishment in 2015 when he
Announced plans of the Parks to set up a drying chilli plant to support the farmers and continue their commitment to work closely with the people of Uganda
To support modernisation and transformation of Uganda’s agricultural sector through technical support to farmers and facilitating trade links to China
The Chairman of the Park Mr. Luo Heng informed the President that the park had attracted investment from6 China’s Linyi Qiwei Canned Food Co., Ltd. registered in Uganda as De Shi Bo Ge Fruit Industry International Co., Ltd. in Uganda, focusing on the deep processing of pineapples.
He noted that the pineapple processing plant would add value to pineapple in Luwero and Uganda at large for export to China, Europe and American markets.
He also introduced the President of the park’s attraction of another investor Little Giants Animal Husbandry and Poultry Company from China that is set to invest “150M Dollars in the value. Chain development of Eggs that are produced by both the industrial park and the Uganda Farmers
He congratulated Busoga Farmers for their contributions to over 90% of the 11 tons of Uganda’s first batch of chilli export to the Chinese Market.
Busoga region is committed to continuing in the production of Chilli as more farmers register efforts to grow chilli even for the yet to start season that begins in February next year.
Chilli is among the leading commercial crops that Uganda is looking at especially Busoga to transform household incomes as it has been a region diched in poverty after an unproductive sugarcane business.