Some of the Equity-delegates-visiting-Roofings-Limited
Uganda’s drive to add value to its agricultural and manufactured products took centre stage as more than 150 investors and business leaders from 10 countries toured local enterprises under Equity Group’s 2026 Uganda Trade and Investment Roadshow.
The investors visited Zigoti Coffee Works Limited, Roofings Limited and RZ Innovations Limited on Tuesday, September 15, following the launch of the roadshow at the Marriott Hotel in Kampala a day earlier.
The visits provided investors with an opportunity to examine how financing, technology and regional market access can help Ugandan businesses move beyond raw commodity exports and expand local production.
At Zigoti Coffee Works, a third-generation coffee business established in 1984, discussions focused on financing processing equipment, working capital and smallholder farmers.
The company, which became Uganda’s first licensed private coffee exporter following liberalisation of the coffee sector, is investing in wet processing and specialty coffee to increase the value of its exports.
Charles Roscoe Nsubuga, Chairman of Zigoti Coffee Works, said access to long-term financing was critical if local exporters are to compete effectively in international markets.
The discussions included financing packages for smallholder farmers to purchase agricultural inputs, with repayment linked to coffee sales.
The company is also seeking to strengthen regional distribution, including opportunities in markets such as South Sudan.
Irene Irungu, Senior Manager of Trade Relations at Equity Group, said the roadshow was designed to connect producers with buyers and markets across Africa.
“The journey started because of overwhelming demand from our customers who wanted to explore different parts of Africa. It was about regional integration, directly matching our producers with buyers across our subsidiary markets so they could conduct direct trade rather than struggling to find new markets on their own.”
At RZ Innovations and its parent company, Royikems Industries, delegates saw another example of local value addition.
The company started as a motorcycle spare-parts business in 2005 and has since developed into a manufacturer of motorcycle tyres, inner tubes and brake shoes, employing about 650 people.
Its products are supplied to markets across East and Central Africa. The company is also investing in circular manufacturing, including recycling scrap aluminium and rubber for use in production.
However, management said high production costs, foreign exchange fluctuations, logistics challenges and unreliable electricity continue to affect manufacturers.
Zigoti-Coffe-Works-Chairman-Charles-Roscoe-Nsbuga-and-Mahvish-Malik-Equity-Group-Associate-Director-Trade-Relations-touring-the-farm.
Mark Ssempijja, General Manager of RZ Innovations, said power reliability remains a major concern for the factory.
“Unreliable grid voltage directly impacts sensitive machinery and hot rubber processing.”
The company has also invested in improving its access road to protect production from dust and maintain quality standards.
During the visit, investors discussed commercial solar power as one option for manufacturers seeking to improve energy reliability and control operating costs.
The engagements at both companies highlighted the financing needs of businesses seeking to increase production, process raw materials locally and access regional markets.
For Equity Group, the roadshow is intended to create direct connections between businesses, investors, buyers and financial institutions.
The initiative also supports efforts to deepen intra-African trade by helping Ugandan businesses identify markets and partnerships beyond the domestic economy.
The site visits demonstrated the opportunities available when local businesses combine financing, value addition and regional market access to move higher up the production chain.
As Uganda seeks to increase exports and retain more value from its agricultural and industrial output, businesses such as Zigoti and RZ Innovations are positioning local production as a pathway to wider regional markets.
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