The quiet hills of Ntungamo are set to come alive this weekend as some of East Africa’s most celebrated musicians descend on the southwestern district for the inaugural Coffee Marathon Concert, an ambitious new cultural and economic showcase.
Scheduled for Saturday, 24 May, the event will be headlined by Tanzanian bongo flava sensation Diamond Platnumz. He’ll be joined by a star-studded line-up including Uganda’s own music heavyweights Bebe Cool and Eddy Kenzo, alongside Rwanda’s The Ben, fresh from his widely acclaimed “Plenty Love” performance in Kampala.
Regional favourites such as Ray G, Beberi, Sister Charity, Medotex Americana and Truth 256 will also take the stage, representing the diverse sounds of western Uganda.
But this is more than just a music festival. Held at the picturesque Africa Coffee Park in Rweshamire, Ntungamo District, the event is part of a broader campaign to spotlight the economic power—and challenges—of rural women in Uganda’s coffee sector.
The concert is the centrepiece of the Africa Coffee Renaissance: Chapter One, an initiative launched by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in May 2024. Under the theme “Uplifting Rural Coffee Women Out of Poverty,” the event will also feature marathon races over 5km, 10km, 21km and 42km, aimed at engaging the public while raising awareness of the often-unrecognised contribution of women in coffee farming.
Hosted by Inspire Africa Group (IAG) in partnership with Uganda’s First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni, the Coffee Marathon Concert underscores a broader mission: to turn Uganda’s position as one of the world’s top coffee producers into a brand rooted in value addition and cultural pride.
“These women are the backbone of an industry that produces some of the finest coffee beans globally,” organisers say. “Yet, they remain under-supported and underpaid.”
Among those lending their star power to the initiative is legendary Ugandan artist Bebe Cool, who is playing a lead role in organising the event. Known for his advocacy as much as his music, Bebe Cool’s involvement reflects the concert’s dual focus on entertainment and social transformation.
The event has also drawn high-profile support from national institutions and private sector players. Marathon brand ambassador and former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Dorcus Inzikuru will be leading the charge, while sponsors include Equity Bank, Crown Beverages Limited, Uganda Tourism Board, Uganda Wildlife Authority, and the Ministries of Science and Technology, and Finance.
Dr Nelson Tugume, CEO of Inspire Africa Group, says Uganda must shift from exporting raw coffee to building a finished, globally recognised brand.
“Uganda has always been a coffee giant, but now we are setting out to become a coffee brand,” Dr Tugume said. “We will no longer export raw potential—we will export finished excellence. Our target is $4 billion from value-added exports and $1 billion from coffee tourism. The time for transformation is now.”
As anticipation builds, organisers say they expect a full house in Ntungamo—blending rhythm and reform in a unique celebration of Uganda’s cultural wealth and agricultural promise.
