About Us
Founded in 2019, HortiFresh is Uganda’s officially endorsed apex body for the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (FFV) sector, uniting exporters, producers, and service providers to drive competitiveness, quality, and market growth. The Secretariat was formally established in July 2021, with national operations officially launched in November 2021. Today, HortiFresh represents 270+ members, supported by a strong, multi-skilled, and independent Secretariat. Field operations commenced in January 2023, expanding the Secretariat’s footprint and service delivery across Uganda.
Vision
A sector that produces and sells safe and good quality fresh fruits & vegetables.
Our Mission
To build the capacity of fresh fruits and vegetables value chain players to meet safety, quality and market requirements.
Our Foundation: The Kabira Club Declaration
On 31st July 2021, Uganda’s leading horticultural export associations signed the ground-breaking Kabira Club Declaration, consolidating their mandates under HortiFresh. The associations include:
- Uganda Horticulture Exporters & Processors Association (UHEPA)
- Horticulture Organization for Promotion & Empowerment (HOPE)
- Federation of Associations of Uganda Exporters (FAUEX)
- Uganda Fruits & Vegetables Producers & Exporters Association (UFVEPA)
This historic alliance created a unified apex institution dedicated to sector-wide advocacy, quality improvement, and export competitiveness.
Additional sector partners under the HortiFresh ecosystem include:
- Uganda Vanilla Exporters Association (VANEX) – sector advocacy, institutional strengthening & value chain development
- Uganda Flowers Exporters Association (UFEA) – unified partner in cut-flower sector development
- Fresh Handling Ltd – HortiFresh shareholder offering packhouse and cold-chain solutions
Regional Leadership & Advocacy
As a founding subscriber to the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA) and the designated COMESA–EAC FFV Market Accelerator Secretariat (2024), HortiFresh plays a pivotal regional role.
Our Regional Mandate
- Regional Advocacy: Strengthening policies that support cross-border trade and sector competitiveness
- Standards Harmonization: Aligning Uganda’s horticultural standards with COMESA/EAC frameworks
- Host of CEHA Uganda Chapter:
- Coordinating priorities for potato, avocado, and onion value chains
- Providing technical assistance to MSMEs
- Regional Value Chain Development: Enhancing market systems and supporting exporters to meet international standards
National Recognition & Government Partnership
HortiFresh is officially recognized by:
- Ministry of Trade, Industry & Cooperatives (MTIC)
- Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development (MoFPED)
Strategic government partners include:
- PACEID – supporting the acquisition and development of the FFV Centre of Excellence
- Uganda Free Zones & Export Promotions Authority (UFZEPA)
HortiFresh is also advancing plans for a €4 million Center of Excellence at Entebbe Airport, in partnership with the Government of Uganda and the EU, designed to boost export capacity and improve compliance infrastructure.
Workforce Expansion Initiative: Strengthening Export Compliance
Through HortiFresh Investments Ltd, the institution is recruiting 20–40 specialized professionals to implement the EU-funded €8 million SPS compliance project. Over four years, the initiative will reinforce Uganda’s export readiness by:
- Strengthening SPS standards and inspection systems
- Delivering field advisory and compliance services
- Enhancing quality assurance, certification, and export documentation processes
Strategic Impact
- Address systemic compliance gaps responsible for 700+ export rejections since 2015
- Recover up to $150 million in lost historical export revenue
- Support Uganda’s continued participation in the €58 million EU fresh produce market, representing 60% of the country’s FFV exports
Implementation Partners
- CABI
- COLEAD
- MAAIF
- HORTIFRESH
- UNBS
Together, these stakeholders are positioning Uganda
