On a windswept hill in Rweshamire, Ntungamo District, where mist coils through eucalyptus groves and red-soil paths twist past banana terraces, Ugandan music icon Bebe Cool gazed over the vast Africa Coffee Park.
Wearing a grey t-shirt, black denim, and polished leather boots, the 47-year-old star, born Moses Ssali, stood unfazed by the chilling wind battering the hilltop gazebo.
He chatted passionately with Inspire Africa Group CEO Nelson Tugume. This was not a music rehearsal. Instead, it was a mission rooted in purpose and national ambition.
Notably, Bebe Cool visited just days before the much-anticipated Africa Coffee Marathon and Concert, set for May 24, 2025.
With his wife Zuena and the Silent Majority media team by his side, he came not only as a performer but also as a passionate supporter of Uganda’s coffee transformation.
“I’m happy to be part of the coffee promotion process we’re taking across the country,” he said.
“I encourage every young person to join in or play a role.”
Indeed, the Africa Coffee Park, an ambitious venture by Inspire Africa Group, rises from Ntungamo’s western hills as a modern industrial marvel.
What began as a dream now stands as Africa’s largest integrated coffee processing hub. Crucially, it symbolizes a shift away from exporting unprocessed beans.
Inside, state-of-the-art machines such as Sigma roasters, capsule lines, extractors, and freeze driers operate under glowing industrial lights. Meanwhile, the air fills with the earthy aroma of roasted coffee.
Public Relations Officer Asuman Kigongo led Bebe Cool on a two-hour tour. Although others grew tired, Bebe Cool remained energized—almost as if powered by the coffee itself.
He explored each production line with genuine curiosity, frequently asking questions and absorbing every detail like a budding barista.
Meanwhile, Tugume observed the scene with satisfaction. For him, Bebe Cool’s visit wasn’t just ceremonial—it was strategic.
“To all the young baristas here,” Tugume said, “you can inspire more youth and reshape our world.”
Consequently, the Africa Coffee Park has come to symbolize African resilience and black empowerment.
Although Uganda is already one of the top coffee producers globally, its economic gains remain limited.
That’s why Tugume envisions growing Uganda’s coffee economy from $1 billion to $5 billion within five years. The plan? Add value, brand locally, and capture more from the global supply chain.
“We must leave the raw material mindset behind,” he said.
“Out of the global $460 billion coffee market, Uganda should earn at least $5 billion.”
Furthermore, the Coffee Park will evolve into a larger smart hub—featuring a Sports Complex, AI-powered IT Park, Convention Centre, and Coffee Academy.
Already, Inspire Africa has signed partnerships with Turkey and Russia to drive consumption and attract technology investments.
“Inspire Africa Group is proud to pioneer instant coffee production in Africa, starting here in Ntungamo,” Kigongo said.
In fact, Uganda’s processed coffee exports have tripled—from five to fifteen containers a week.
Nevertheless, beyond infrastructure, the real revolution is in human stories—especially that of women.
The 2025 Africa Coffee Marathon, under the theme “Uplifting the Rural Woman,” aims to celebrate women’s unrecognized role in coffee farming.
The event features 42km, 21km, 10km, and 5km races. With a prize pool of UGX 116 million, it promises to inspire and reward effort.
Runners will pass through coffee plantations, gentle hills, and along Lake Nyabihoko’s tranquil shores. Therefore, the experience will be both scenic and symbolic.
After the race, music takes center stage.
The Africa Coffee Concert will electrify Ntungamo with performances from Bebe Cool, Eddy Kenzo, Diamond Platnumz, Bruce Melodie, Sister Charity, and others.
While the night celebrates culture, it also amplifies the message of economic transformation.
“Please send this to Barista Timo in Dubai,” Bebe Cool joked. “Let all baristas come home. Taste Ugandan coffee and explore its power.”
From the hilltop gazebo where Bebe Cool stood with Tugume, the scent of roasted beans in the air and the wind tugging at his shirt—it felt like the start of something big.
Ultimately, the singer came as a guest but left as a messenger for Uganda’s boldest export dream.
In the misty hills of Ntungamo, that dream is now beginning to brew.