Minister Mugasa Calls for Commercial Agriculture, Value Addition

What the report says

State Minister for Bunyoro Affairs Mary Grace Mugasa has called on leaders, farmers and other stakeholders in Hoima District and the wider Bunyoro sub-region to use the region’s oil and gas opportunities to drive broader economic growth. According to Nile Post, she urged a shift toward commercial agriculture, higher farm productivity and value addition, saying households should produce for markets rather than only for home consumption.

Mugasa made the remarks at the Hoima District Budget Conference, where she also pressed agricultural extension workers to work more closely with farmers on improved agronomic practices, better inputs and post-harvest handling. She said the Bunyoro Affairs docket in the Office of the Prime Minister is seeking about Shs500 billion to support the Bunyoro Development Plan, which is intended to help reduce poverty in the area.

The conference also highlighted district budget priorities and development progress. Hoima officials pointed to funding for service delivery, road maintenance, tourism and agricultural extension, while noting improvements in the district’s service delivery assessment ranking. The district leadership said its next budget cycle will focus on Uganda’s tenfold growth strategy, which emphasizes agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral development and innovation.

Other speakers linked the region’s future to oil-related investment, including the Kabalega Industrial Park, while also calling for better local revenue collection, improved security and action on land conflicts. The meeting’s theme centered on monetising the economy through commercial agriculture, industrialisation, services, digital transformation and market access.