Uganda has been bringing in US$76 million (about Shs270 billion) from tea exports annually over the past eight years, making it the fourth-largest agricultural export commodity after coffee, maize, and fisheries, according to the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS).
The agriculture agency gave the update in a statement showing the performance of the tea sector and investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that have expressed interest in establishing seven tea processing factories in the East African nation.
Business executives from Elite Agro were in the country for five days, November 25-30, to explore opportunities in tea processing.
President Yoweri Museveni met them during his visit to the ongoing Dubai Expo in UAE and wooed them to come and invest in Uganda.
They visited the tea-growing districts of Kisoro, Rukiga, Bushenyi, Sheema, Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Zombo, and Buikwe where they interacted with tea farmers and the leadership of the districts.
The Executive Director National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) Dr. Samuel Mugasi and the Director Crop Resources from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Steven Byantware guided the tour.
According to Mugasi, Uganda currently produces over 80,000 metric tons of tea annually which is over and above the processing capacity of the 32 existing tea processing factories in the country.
“Since 2013, Government through NAADS under the Tea Industry Expansion Initiative has procured and distributed over 500 million tea seedlings to farmers resulting in increased production of green leaf,” he said.
The tea sector, which produced an average of 3.6% of Uganda’s export earnings over the last five years -- employs close to 80,000 farming households and supports 150,000 skilled and unskilled workers. About 1,000,000 people directly derive their livelihoods from tea growing.
Uganda's tea export revenue apexed at US$ 93.879 million in 2018.
