Uganda: Opposition Pushes Contract Farming Bill to Cut 22-30 Percent Crop Losses

What the report says

Uganda’s opposition lawmakers in the 12th Parliament are advancing a package of agricultural reforms aimed at cutting post-harvest crop losses and improving farm incomes, according to a report by Nile Post published via AllAfrica. The proposals are laid out in the Opposition Legislative Priorities for FY2026/27 to FY2030/31, a five-year plan that will guide bills, motions, committee work and budget advocacy during the current parliamentary term.

At the centre of the agenda is a proposed Contract Farming Bill that would set rules for agreements between farmers and buyers, including terms on pricing, inputs, insurance and dispute resolution. The opposition says stronger regulation is needed because farmers can be exposed to unfair deals and conflict over contracts. The same document also calls for a national post-harvest management policy, updated agricultural finance rules and a mechanisation policy to improve storage, handling, credit access and productivity.

The priorities cite a 2023 World Bank Group estimate that Uganda loses 22% to 30% of crop harvests after harvest, largely because of weak storage and handling systems. The opposition says those losses limit commercialisation, food security and household income in a country where agriculture remains a major employer and export earner. It also proposes measures for tea, cocoa, livestock, dairy, fisheries and aquaculture, including stronger traceability, anti-counterfeit enforcement and clearer rules for community fisheries management.

Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi unveiled the roadmap at an induction event, saying the opposition wants to offer practical alternatives and constructive scrutiny. The package is intended to address broader structural gaps in farming finance, regulation and value addition, while improving competitiveness across Uganda’s agricultural sector.