Uganda and the United Kingdom have taken a significant step toward strengthening their partnership in the agricultural sector with the launch of the inaugural Agro-Industrialisation Forum. The high-level event brought together government representatives, farmers, agribusinesses, and development partners to discuss opportunities for transforming Uganda’s agricultural landscape.
Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Uganda’s economy and the largest source of employment. The forum highlighted the country’s commitment to agro-industrialisation, one of the pillars of its National Development Plan. The strategy focuses on enhancing access to agricultural financing, expanding agro-industrial infrastructure, adopting modern technologies, and improving value chains to increase both domestic productivity and exports.
The United Kingdom reaffirmed its support for this vision, underscoring its role as a longstanding development and trade partner. Uganda’s exports to the UK have grown steadily, with products such as coffee, tea, spices, fish, dairy, vegetables, and flowers finding strong demand in the British market. In recent years, trade volumes have nearly doubled, demonstrating the potential for further growth through structured collaboration.
The UK has been instrumental in financing and implementing initiatives that build resilience and sustainability within Uganda’s agricultural sector. For instance, British company Nexus Green has partnered with Uganda’s government to expand irrigation schemes across the country, improving water access for farmers. Additionally, the UK’s £39 million Climate Smart Jobs programme is helping communities in Northern Uganda adapt to the challenges of climate change while creating new employment opportunities.
Through the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, the UK has eased market entry for Ugandan exporters, ensuring that more of the country’s produce reaches supermarket shelves in Britain. The scheme is expected to further encourage farmers and agribusinesses to invest in higher-value crops and improved production standards.
Looking ahead, the forum set out several priorities to deepen cooperation. These include raising awareness about UK agricultural technologies, strengthening ties between Ugandan and British agribusinesses, and supporting Uganda’s ten-fold growth ambitions. The discussions also emphasized the role of Uganda Airlines’ direct flights to London in facilitating trade, the need to address existing trade barriers, and the importance of media engagement in highlighting climate change challenges and solutions within the sector.
This new phase of Uganda-UK collaboration is expected to accelerate sustainable agricultural transformation, boost exports, and create greater resilience in the face of global challenges.
