By Senior Editor, China-Africa News
Kampala,For the first time, Uganda has shipped dried chili to China a landmark moment for the country’s agro-export ambitions. On 20 November 2025, President Yoweri Museveni flagged off three containers carrying 11 tonnes of Busoga-grown dried chili during a ceremony in Bunambo Village, Namasagali Sub-county, Kamuli District.
Museveni described chili as a “gold crop” with the potential to transform household incomes in Busoga, a region long challenged by poverty. He urged farmers to scale up production, as the Chinese market is only now opening.
Highlighting the strength of Uganda-China ties, he praised China as a “reliable and respectful” partner, rooting their cooperation in solidarity dating back to 1949.
The event was attended by top officials including First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni, First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga, and the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong.
Kadaga called the flag-off “a true testament to the development gains” from years of lobbying and collaboration, but also pressed the government to deliver on unmet promises particularly extending electricity to farming areas and building an industrial park for agro-processing.
Ambassador Zhang said the export is a fruit of the 2024 Chili Protocol signed during the FOCAC Summit in Beijing. He added that zero-tariff access has now been extended to 98% of Uganda’s taxable exports, giving farmers a major boost.
By August 2025, trade between Uganda and China had surged to USD 1.3 billion, with Uganda’s exports alone hitting USD 100 million, according to Zhang.
The shipment follows months of preparation under the China–Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park(Kehogn) and the FAO–China–Uganda South-South Cooperation project, which provided farmers with high-quality chili seeds and training. Chinese agricultural experts say farmers followed strict production standards, after which the industrial park bought the harvest for export.
Anthony Mula, Director General of the Busoga Consortium for Development, described the chili initiative as a “household transformation strategy.” He added that the region could become Uganda’s largest chili-producing hub as farmer participation grows.
At the same time, Luo Heng, chairman of the China–Uganda industrial park, announced further Chinese investments: a pineapple processing plant and a US$150 million egg production value chain project.
This first consignment isn’t just symbolic it underscores Uganda’s shift toward export-driven, value-added agriculture and deepening economic ties with China. As production scales up, the chili deal could help boost incomes, drive rural development, and diversify the country’s exports.
