Uganda’s food surplus must start paying its farmers

What the report says

The Independent Uganda published a commentary on July 28, 2026, by David Wozemba Wataka, identified as AGRA Uganda’s country director, arguing that Uganda’s food surplus should translate into better earnings for farmers. The article says Uganda produces more food than it consumes and sells crops such as maize, beans and rice into regional markets, but that the main challenge is ensuring farmers receive fair returns through value addition, stronger local and regional markets, and improved post-harvest systems.

Wataka points to government initiatives including the agro-industrialisation pillar of the National Development Plan, presidential directives on agriculture and the Parish Development Model as efforts aligned with that goal. He also cites Uganda’s hosting of the Kampala CAADP Summit in January 2025 and the resulting Kampala Declaration as part of a broader policy framework for African agriculture over the next decade.

The commentary says Uganda has made gains in fertiliser policy, seed sector planning, seed inspection, agricultural lending and aggregation centres. However, it also notes persistent constraints: low use of improved seed and fertiliser, limited extension services, worsening floods and droughts, quality-control weaknesses affecting exports, and agriculture receiving less than the 10% budget share agreed under continental commitments.

Wataka presents AGRA’s role as supportive rather than leading, saying it has helped train researchers, supported improved crop varieties and seed companies, mobilised agribusiness investment, backed credit for more than 50,000 farmers and supported regional trade. He says future work will align with Uganda’s 2024-2028 priorities for maize, beans, soyabean, cassava, groundnuts and rice, while also targeting youth employment, climate resilience and reduced post-harvest losses.