Soroti Fruits Limited

Soroti Fruits Limited is a public-private partnership and a subsidiary of the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), established in 2011. It manages the Soroti Fruit Processing Factory, an initiative aimed at providing a reliable market for fruit farmers in the Teso sub-region. In 2025, the government announced a major $30 million (Shs 107 billion) expansion and modernization plan in partnership with an Ethiopian management firm to boost production and international exports.

• Flagship Product: The company produces and distributes "TEJU" (Teso Juice), a 100% natural, ready-to-drink juice and fruit concentrate. In 2025, flavors include Mango, Orange, and Mixed Fruit.

• Ownership Structure: The Ugandan government, through the UDC, holds 80% of the shares, while the Teso Tropical Fruit Growers Cooperative Union (TETFGCU) owns the remaining 20%.

• Factory Capacity: The facility currently processes approximately six metric tonnes of fruit per hour. The planned 2025 expansion aims to increase this capacity to 10 tonnes per hour.

• 2025 Modernization Plan: Unveiled in November 2025, the expansion includes advanced automatic bottling and packaging lines, multi-fruit processing units, and facilities for producing organic fertilizers and animal feeds from fruit waste.

• Ethiopian Partnership: As of May 2024, Chimaki Agro Limited, a firm led by Azeb Mesfin Haile (widow of former Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi), took over the management and operations to improve efficiency and profitability.

• Farmer Support: In late 2024 and 2025, the factory shifted to a direct procurement model, buying fruit directly from farmers rather than middlemen to increase farmer household incomes.

• Export Ambitions: The company is currently working toward international food certification to begin exporting its orange and mango concentrates to foreign markets, including the Middle East, by 2026.