Uganda has officially shipped its first consignment of dried chilli to China – a milestone that will reshape the country’s agriculture and export landscape while deepening Sino-Ugandan economic ties. On November 20, 2025, at a flag-off ceremony in Kamuli District, President Yoweri Museveni sent three containers carrying 11 tonnes of Busoga-grown chilli to China. The export follows a 2024 protocol signed between the two nations that opened the Chinese market to Ugandan dried chili and aquatic products.
The ceremony attracted high-level dignitaries, including the First Lady, delegation leaders from agriculture and government, local farmers, and the Chinese Ambassador Zhang Lizhong. Museveni described chilli as a “gold crop,” urging farmers to embrace it as a viable income-generating alternative – especially for the Busoga region, which has long struggled with poverty.
This first shipment is not merely symbolic. It represents the fruition of years of collaboration under the China-Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through a China-Uganda South-South Cooperation project. Chinese agricultural experts provided high-quality seeds, cultivation know-how, and guidance on international export standards.
For many Ugandan farmers in Busoga, the expansion into chilli farming offers hope. Local leaders at the event emphasized that the new export corridor could lift household incomes, reduce reliance on traditional crops, and reposition the region as a key supplier of high-value agricultural products.
Beyond agriculture, this milestone reinforces the broader China-Uganda economic and trade relationship. Bilateral trade has surged in recent years, reaching US$1.3 billion by August 2025, with Uganda’s exports to China reportedly doubling to roughly US$100 million.
Uganda is not putting all its eggs in one basket. In parallel to chilli, the country continues to expand other agro-exports: for example, its coffee producers showcased beans and processed goods at the 2025 China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai – revealing growing demand for Ugandan agricultural goods in China’s retail and industrial markets.
This first dried chilli shipment is more than a consignment, it’s a statement: Uganda is ready to meet global demand, attract sustainable investment, and grow its economy through smart, diversified agriculture.
