Uganda must capture more value from what it produces

What the report says

In a viewpoint published by The Observer, a Ugandan commentator argues that the country needs to do more than raise farm output if it wants to benefit fully from agriculture. The piece points to the writer’s observations of Kenyan products on supermarket shelves in the United Kingdom and Europe, contrasted with the absence of Ugandan-branded goods, as a prompt for Uganda to examine how value is created after harvest.

The article says Uganda produces coffee, fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy and fish, but often loses out on packaging, branding, logistics, certification and export relationships that can determine whether products reach higher-value markets. It also suggests the government should investigate how Ugandan produce moves through regional trade channels, including whether goods are exported via Kenya or re-exported by Kenyan firms.

The writer argues that Kenya’s apparent market success may reflect stronger systems around standards, supply chains and distribution rather than fundamentally different farm products. The broader message is that Uganda should focus on processing, storage, transport, financing and market access, so that more income, jobs and foreign exchange stay in-country.

The piece frames this as a long-term policy issue for Uganda and the East African Community, rather than a short-term trade dispute. It says agricultural policy should be judged not only by tonnage produced, but by how much value reaches farmers and local businesses.