American actor and R&B singer Tyrese Gibson has arrived in Uganda for a three-day visit focused on the country’s coffee industry, tourism and cultural heritage.
The Fast & Furious star landed at Entebbe International Airport on Tuesday, August 25, where he was received by representatives of the Uganda Tourism Board and other officials.
Exploring Uganda’s coffee journey
Gibson’s visit forms part of the Explore Uganda Coffee Tourism campaign, an initiative bringing together the Uganda Tourism Board, Kampala Capital City Authority, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Africa Coffee Park.
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The campaign aims to allow visitors to experience Uganda’s coffee value chain, from farmers and farms to processing and the finished product.
During his stay, Gibson is expected to meet coffee farmers, plant a coffee tree and visit the Africa Coffee Park in Ntungamo District.
The facility in Rwashamaire is built around coffee production and value addition. Its operators say the park works with more than 1,200 smallholder farmers and processes coffee locally.
“We discussed the creative arts, tourism, and the shared history and heritage of Africa and African Americans.” — Yoweri Museveni.
Museveni welcomes Tyrese
Museveni said their discussions covered creative arts, tourism and the shared history and heritage of Africa and African-Americans. He also highlighted the role of artists in Uganda’s services sector and wider economic transformation agenda.
The meeting also featured Ugandan coffee and other cultural artefacts as the country seeks to promote its products and tourism experiences to international audiences.
Source of the Nile visit
Gibson is also expected to travel to Jinja to visit the Source of the Nile, one of Uganda’s major tourist attractions.
The itinerary is designed to combine coffee experiences with Uganda’s natural and cultural attractions, allowing the actor to experience the country beyond its coffee production.
His visit comes as Uganda continues to promote tourism experiences that connect agriculture, culture and local communities with international visitors.
From Hollywood to Uganda’s coffee farms
Gibson is widely recognised for playing Roman Pearce in the Fast & Furious film franchise. He has also built a career as an R&B singer, songwriter, actor, author and television producer.
Ugandan officials and tourism stakeholders hope his international profile will draw greater attention to the country’s coffee industry and tourism destinations.
