The General Manager of Budadiri Arabica Coffee Mills, Wagisha Julius, has revealed that the intervention of the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) was the turning point that saved the factory from collapse following a prolonged market crisis and a crippling loan owed to the Uganda Development Bank (UDB), Spyreports has learnt.
The mill, located in Budadiri, Sironko District, was established with a bold vision: to serve as a community-based processing hub where farmers could bring their coffee without travelling long distances or incurring high transport costs. However, when global market instability hit and prices plunged, operations stalled, the mill closed, and a loan burden of Shs 4.12 billion threatened the future of the entire dream.
In an exclusive interview, Wagisha explained that UDC’s arrival marked a complete turnaround.“When the factory was shut down because of the market crisis, the pending loan with UDB made the situation even worse. UDC stepped in when all options were exhausted. They cleared the Shs 4.12bn loan and helped us revitalize and reopen the factory,” he said.According to Wagisha, once UDC became a shareholder, the mill regained stability and independence.
“Their support restored operations, restored confidence among farmers, and allowed us to rebuild a sustainable business model,” he stated.Since reopening, the mill has created significant socioeconomic impact within the region.
“We have been able to employ over 50 people, both skilled and unskilled, with the largest proportion being youth and women. This factory has brought back dignity and opportunity to our community,” he noted.Looking ahead, Wagisha says the next five years will be focused on expansion and value addition.
“We plan to establish a coffee wet mill and venture into roasted coffee products for both the local and international markets. Value addition is the future, and we intend to position Budadiri as a competitive player.”However, the journey is not without challenges.
The biggest hurdle remains the drying of coffee during the peak harvest season, which typically coincides with heavy rains.“Our geography and weather patterns make traditional drying extremely difficult.
A mechanical dryer would significantly improve our processing efficiency and protect the quality of farmers’ coffee,” Wagisha explained.Despite these challenges, he remains optimistic. He believes that with the right investments and continued community support, Budadiri Arabica Coffee Mills is on a clear path toward becoming a model processing hub for Eastern Ugand
