Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has assured Inspire Africa Coffee Park chief executive officer Nelson Tugume that the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) will protect him and his investments after the businessman endorsed Muhoozi’s bid for the presidency in 2031.

Tugume signed the PLU endorsement book during a meeting at the movement’s offices in Naguru, Kampala, on September 14, formally declaring his support for Muhoozi’s political ambitions.

“I welcome Dr Nelson Tugume to the mighty PLU. He can feel confident that the people’s movement will protect him and his investments,” Muhoozi said.

Tugume said his decision to support Muhoozi was influenced by the importance of stability and predictability to businesses and investors.

“Investment follows confidence,” Tugume said, arguing that peace, good governance and a stable operating environment are important for businesses planning to invest for the long term.

Tugume’s business interests are centred on the coffee value chain through Inspire Africa Coffee Park, which is developing facilities for processing, branding and marketing Ugandan coffee.

The company has also sought international markets for Ugandan coffee. In 2025, Inspire Africa showcased its products at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, where Ugandan coffee companies engaged potential buyers, distributors and investors.

The company has promoted value addition as part of its effort to move Ugandan coffee beyond the export of raw beans and into higher-value branded products.

Tugume’s endorsement has consequently brought private-sector concerns about investment and market access into the wider political discussion around Muhoozi’s 2031 ambitions.

The question of how businesses can access markets is also being illustrated through other private-sector initiatives.

Tourism entrepreneur Amos Wekesa’s Rwenzori Marathon, for example, has grown from 800 runners from four countries in 2022 to 8,000 participants from 43 countries in 2026. The growth has increased activity for accommodation providers, restaurants, transport operators, tour companies and other businesses in Kasese and the surrounding areas.

Wekesa has also promoted his Friday Market Day initiative, through which businesses showcase their products and services to potential customers.

These initiatives highlight the role of market access in determining whether locally produced goods and services can translate into wider business opportunities.

For coffee producers, access to export markets can create demand for value-added products. In tourism, increased visitor numbers can generate business for hotels, restaurants, transport companies and tour operators.

The issue fits into Uganda’s broader economic ambitions. Government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy targets expansion of the economy from about US$50 billion in 2023 to US$500 billion by 2040, with agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral development and science, technology and innovation identified among the key growth areas.

The strategy places private investment, value addition and expansion of markets among the factors expected to drive economic growth.

For entrepreneurs, however, the business environment involves more than attracting investment. It also includes predictable regulations, access to finance, infrastructure, customers and domestic and international markets.

Tugume’s meeting with Muhoozi therefore brings together two issues — political support and the concerns of private investors.

While Tugume linked his endorsement to stability and investor confidence, Muhoozi responded by assuring him of PLU’s support and protection for his investments.

The engagement comes as PLU continues to mobilise endorsements for Muhoozi ahead of the 2031 presidential contest, with the movement using both physical endorsement books and online platforms to register support.