Agriculture at Crossroads as Prolonged Drought Leaves Masaka Farmers Counting Losses

What the report says

Thousands of farmers in Masaka City, Uganda, are facing major losses after nearly four months of dry weather damaged coffee, matooke and other crops, according to Watchdog Uganda. The report says the prolonged sunshine has deepened worries about food security and household incomes in a community where many families rely on farming for their livelihoods.

During a visit to farmers in Kanabukulilo Village in Bisanje Ward, State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere Nsubuga said the drought was hurting agricultural production and livelihoods. She also raised concern about counterfeit fertilisers and other fake farm inputs, which farmers said had cost them money without delivering results. Nameere criticised agricultural extension and production officers for not doing enough to guide farmers on preparing for dry spells and managing water more effectively.

The minister said government has recently signed an irrigation project that includes Masaka City, describing it as a possible long-term response to increasingly unreliable weather patterns. She also said she would raise the issue with the Office of the Prime Minister to explore support for affected farmers. Local officials and farmers said the losses are especially painful for coffee growers, since coffee requires years of investment before producing meaningful returns.

Masaka Resident City Commissioner Ahmed Washaki linked the changing weather to environmental damage, urging protection of wetlands and other natural resources. The broader significance of the story is that drought, counterfeit inputs and weak extension support are combining to strain agriculture in a region that depends heavily on farming, while planned irrigation may offer some relief if implemented effectively.