AGRA at 20: Charting Uganda’s next chapter in agricultural transformation

What the report says

The Independent Uganda reports that AGRA’s 20th anniversary gathering in Kampala on July 10 brought together scientists, government officials, farmer groups, agribusiness leaders and development partners to assess Uganda’s agricultural progress and remaining gaps. The central issue, according to the report, was how Uganda can convert years of research, seed-system development and institutional investment into stronger and more reliable incomes for farmers.

The report says participants noted major gains over two decades, including support linked to training 49 master’s and 20 PhD graduates in plant breeding and soil science, development of 59 improved crop varieties, and commercialization of 56 of them. AGRA’s Uganda country director, Dr David Wozemba, framed the anniversary as a reflection on Africa-led agricultural transformation, while the article cites additional support to seven seed companies, 440 aggregation centres, more than 427,000 farmers, US$62.8 million in agribusiness investment and US$25 million in agricultural credit guarantees.

Despite those investments, speakers cautioned that technology and research have not automatically delivered broad prosperity. Dr Patience Rwamigisa of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries highlighted the challenge of moving innovations from research institutions to farms, while NARO’s Dr Sadik Kassim stressed that improved varieties must be matched with soil health, crop protection, water management and good farming practices. AFAAS chief executive Dr Lilian Lihasi also pointed to extension services as the bridge between knowledge and farmer adoption.

The wider significance is that agriculture remains central to Uganda’s economy and rural livelihoods, but the next phase of transformation may depend less on producing innovations and more on connecting research, advisory services, finance, markets, standards and climate resilience in ways that smallholder farmers can use.