Uganda: 300 exhibitors transform coffee and cocoa into a tourism experience

In Jinja, in eastern Uganda, coffee and cocoa are becoming a travel experience as well as an agricultural product this Friday, September 18. The first Busoga Coffee & Cocoa Tourism Festival focuses on farms, tastings, and the Nile River to showcase two cultures that are vital for the region’s agricultural income.

The event runs until September 20 at the Jinja Showgrounds. Organizers expect more than 300 exhibitors and thousands of participants, including producers, processors, buyers, investors, tourism operators, and startups, all gathered around the coffee and cocoa sectors.

The program fully embraces a lifestyle approach. Starting September 17, an agritourism experience took participants to farms in Busede, in the Jinja district, to observe production and processing, taste products, and see how a farm can also serve as a tourist destination. The festival will also feature coffee tastings, cocoa demonstrations, local cuisine, and cultural performances.

One of the most unique offerings is scheduled for Saturday, September 19. The Nile Coffee Cruise aims to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, exporters, and tourism stakeholders on the river for tastings and professional networking. Organizers hope to make this a recurring event beyond this inaugural edition.

The project also has a strong focus on women and entrepreneurship. The festival is organized by the Women’s Environmental Forum Uganda, which works on the economic empowerment of women and youth employment. Women-led or youth-led businesses will be selected for a six-month acceleration program following the event.

The festival continues until Sunday, September 20, in Jinja. The Nile Coffee Cruise is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, and the selected businesses for the post-festival program will receive support for six months in areas such as business development, product preparation for export, and investment sourcing.