Museveni Flags off Uganda’s First Dried Chili Consignment to China

President Museveni accompanied by First Lady Janet Museveni flags off Uganda's first batch of chili containers to the Chinese market during a function held at Namasagali on Thursday. PPU Photo

On Thursday, 20th November, 2025, Uganda marked a major milestone in its agricultural export ambitions as President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni flagged off the country’s first consignment of dried chili destined for the Chinese market.

The ceremony, held at Bunambo Village in Namasagali Sub-county, Kamuli District, drew top government officials, diplomats, investors, and local farmers who celebrated what they termed as historic breakthrough for Busoga and the nation’s agro-export sector.

President Museveni, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, presided over the flag-off of three containers carrying 11 tonnes of dried chili. He hailed China as one of Uganda’s most reliable and respectful partners, noting that the export deal aligns with Uganda’s broader strategy of agro-industrialization and value addition.

“I would like to congratulate the Republic of China for working with Africa. China has been supporting us since 1949 and has always related with us on equal terms,” President Museveni said. “The Chinese are not arrogant. That is why our cooperation is smooth.”

The President expressed confidence that chili, which he referred to as a “gold crop,” has the potential to transform household incomes in Busoga, a region that has long struggled with widespread poverty.

President Museveni urged farmers to take chili cultivation seriously, emphasizing that the Chinese market was only beginning to open up.

“These crops – chili, are among the gold mines that we Africans must embrace,” he said.

“This is just an introduction. They should buy more and more. If we take this seriously, it will take us very far.”

The 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga described the event as the culmination of years of lobbying, cooperation agreements, and groundwork with Chinese partners.

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“We began this project years back when we signed a cooperation agreement with China. Seeing the President flag off the first container is a true testament to the development gains we must protect,” Rt. Hon. Kadaga said.

She applauded the government for supporting the chili project but also used the moment to remind the President of outstanding pledges, including extending electricity to the farming areas and establishing an industrial park in the region to boost value-addition initiatives.

The Ambassador of China to Uganda, H.E. Zhang Lizhong, congratulated the people of Busoga and Uganda at large, describing the inaugural chili export as a product of strong diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations. He highlighted the 2024 chili export protocol signed during the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing as a key enabler of this success.