About Balad International
As Uganda's leading vegetable export company, we connect Ugandan smallholder farmers to global markets across East Africa and beyond with full farm-to-port traceability, agronomist-led quality assurance, and government-backed compliance — so every buyer knows exactly where their produce came from and how it was handled.
Balad International was founded in 2016 in Nkumba, Katabi Town Council, on the outskirts of Entebbe, to export high-quality Ugandan agricultural produce and address a problem long facing the industry: too many exporters were shipping poor-quality produce and damaging buyer trust. What began as a small network of trusted growers near our Entebbe home has grown into a structured export operation spanning six districts, with every farmer registered, every plot mapped, and every harvest logged against a unique batch number.
From farm registration to agronomist sign-off, government inspection, and export documentation, every step is tracked in our digital traceability platform. That means when a buyer in Dubai, Doha or Riyadh receives a shipment, they can see precisely which farmer, plot and harvest date it came from, and which inspector certified it fit for export.
We believe reliable export infrastructure should benefit smallholder farmers directly — through fair, predictable prices, agronomic training, and a guaranteed route to market for produce that meets the grade.
“Every crate that leaves our packhouse carries a farmer's name and a season of work behind it. Our job is to make sure the world can see that too.”
Our Journey
2016
Balad International began in Nkumba, Katabi Town Council, on the outskirts of Entebbe — a small, trusted grower network built on fair pricing and a handshake commitment to buy every well-grown harvest.
2018
Our first phytosanitary-certified shipment left nearby Entebbe International Airport, proving that smallholder-grown produce could meet international buyers' quality and paperwork standards.
2020
Growing demand let us extend agronomist support and off-take agreements to farmers across six Ugandan districts, formalizing plot mapping and batch registration along the way.
2023
We launched full farm-to-port digital tracking, so every batch — and every certificate, inspection and shipment tied to it — is logged and auditable in real time.
Today
Ten years on from our first grower partnerships, Balad International exports certified Ugandan produce to buyers in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia — with 100% batch-level traceability on every shipment.
To bridge local harvests and international dining tables by delivering premium, farm-fresh produce that meets rigorous global quality standards, ensuring complete customer satisfaction across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
To be the leading and preferred premium exporter of agricultural products globally.
Leadership & Governance
A Board-governed company led by an experienced management team, with a clear chain of accountability from strategy through to day-to-day operations.
Board of Directors
Kasigwa Abdalla
Director
Board of Directors
Norah Namwirya
Director
Managing Director / CEO
Mutesi Aminah Kasigwa
Administration Department
Sets overall strategy and governance for the company.
Leads day-to-day operations and reports to the Board.
Direct each department's staff and daily activities.
Oversee frontline teams and enforce quality standards.
Carry out the day-to-day work across every department.
| Department | Main Responsibilities | Department Head |
|---|---|---|
| Sourcing and Agronomy Department | Manages relationships with local farmers and producer groups, oversees crop planning, harvesting schedules and produce collection, and trains growers on sustainable, export-quality practices. | Nicolas Nuwagira / Twaha Sendagi |
| Quality Control and Regulatory Compliance Department | Inspects grading, sorting and packaging at packhouses, secures phytosanitary and organic certificates, and ensures compliance with international food safety and pesticide-residue limits. | Nicolas Nuwagira / Twaha Sendagi |
| Logistics and Supply Chain Department | Operates cold-chain facilities to prevent spoilage, coordinates air freight and container shipping with carriers, and tracks inventory, warehousing and delivery schedules. | Tropical Clearing and Forwarding Company Uganda Ltd |
| Sales and International Marketing Department | Identifies global buyers and negotiates export contracts, analyses foreign market trends and pricing, and handles trade fairs and customer communication. | Kasigwa Abdalla |
| Finance and Administration Department | Manages foreign currency exchange and international payments, applies for export financing, credit lines and trade insurance, and handles payroll, taxes and general business operations. | Mutesi Aminah Kasigwa |
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Years in Business
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Ugandan Districts
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Export Markets Served
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Quality & Certification Process
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Batch-Level Traceability
From farm gate to the Balad International export hub, and on by real road, sea and air routes to buyers overseas — including the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia — watch produce move across our network in real time.
Live map: real road routes (OpenStreetMap routing) carry harvested produce from farmer districts to the Balad International export hub, then out by direct flight — no stopover — to our currently served markets: the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Animated 🚚/✈️ markers show cargo in transit, rotated to face their direction of travel.
No batch data available yet.
A single, auditable journey from farm registration to export delivery — every stage recorded against the batch.
Smallholder farmers register with verified national ID, farm location and plot details before onboarding.
Our agronomists guide planting, crop rotation and input use throughout the growing season.
Each harvested batch is graded and agronomist-checked for size, maturity and defects.
Certified batches pass a government inspection and receive an official phytosanitary certificate.
Produce is sorted, packed and reefer-stored to preserve freshness before dispatch.
Shipments move by road, sea or air to buyers worldwide, tracked from hub to destination.
Delivering safe, high-grade agricultural goods from the farm to international markets while meeting strict quality standards.
Protecting the environment, reducing our carbon footprint, and ensuring safe working conditions for everyone in our supply chain.
Operating with honesty, transparency and professional accountability in every global transaction.
Fostering long-term collaboration with local farmers, distributors and overseas buyers.
Whether you're a farmer looking to register or a buyer seeking a certified, traceable supply of Ugandan vegetables, we'd like to hear from you.
