Ugacof Ltd.
MIGA issued a contract of guarantee to Afriproduce Ltd. in the amount of $3.11 million to cover its equity investment in Ugacof, Ltd. The guarantee replaces MIGA’s existing coverage of a shareholder loan and equity investment by Afriproduce Ltd., which was issued in fiscal year 1999. The new guarantee is for a period of five years and covers against the risks expropriation and war and civil disturbance. The guarantee covers Ugacof’s fixed assets, including a new warehouse, which will increase capacity and improve production flexibility.
In the five years of Ugacof’s operation, the project has contributed to Uganda’s economy both through export levies and taxes and through export earnings. Community development has also been positively impacted through the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills. The project has replaced most of its expatriates with local staff in the management structure, and women are particularly well represented at the managerial and supervisory levels.
As part of its continued commitment to the local community, Ugacof provides local farmers with advice on increasing capacity. It also sensitizes growers to the quality of their coffee and offers assistance in diversifying crops so farmers can bring more varieties to market.
For more on this project, please see the project brief in the FY99 Annual Report and “Reaching out to Small and Medium Enterprises” in the FY04 Annual Report.