At a time when global financial aid to developing nations is shrinking, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has made an urgent call for Uganda to embrace innovative and alternative financing solutions to unlock the full potential of its agrifood systems.
Speaking at the Uganda Agrifood Systems Investment and Financing Summit in Namanve, FAO representative to Uganda, Mr. Yergalme Taages Beraki, warned that the scale of investment required to transform Uganda's food systems far exceeds current budget allocations.
"This conference on financing and investment in the Agrifood systems in Uganda is more important today than yesterday given the recent budget cut across donor's community with substantial reduction of their financial aid to developing countries," he said.
He added that this has prompted the government of Uganda to look for alternative and innovative financing mechanisms to accelerate the attainment of National Development Plan IV aspirations and the SDGs.
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
Held under the theme "Catalyzing Innovative Financing and Investments in Uganda's Agrifood Systems for Accelerated Socio-Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development", the summit comes amid alarming statistics.
Over 34% of Ugandans remain undernourished, and more than 12 million face food insecurity, despite agriculture contributing 24% to the country's GDP and employing over 70% of the population.
Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Bright Rwamirama, who officiated the event, emphasized that Uganda's future depends on transitioning agriculture from a survival mechanism to a strategic economic driver.
"As our population approaches 46 million, agriculture must go beyond merely feeding our people 'ekidda kyokka'," said Rwamirama. "It must become a source of household income, wealth creation, and regional competitiveness."
He outlined existing government efforts, including agro-industrialization, Operation Wealth Creation, and the Parish Development Model, but acknowledged that these alone are insufficient.
"Transformation requires more than good policy; it requires financing. This is not just a government responsibility, it's a collective duty involving development partners, the private sector, academia, and civil society," he stressed.
Beraki pointed to the newly adopted Kampala Declaration 2025 and the CAADP Strategy 2026-2035 as signs of Uganda's leadership in agrifood system transformation.
"Uganda has taken bold steps globally and continentally. Now, it must turn those frameworks into bankable opportunities," he noted.
"We must close the gap between ambition and investment. Only then can we achieve better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life," he added.
He further emphasized the role of the National Food Systems Coordination Committee (NFSCC) as a model for stakeholder coordination, calling on Uganda to expand its inclusive approach to unlock blended financing.
The conference also brought renewed focus to the need for targeted, inclusive investments especially in regions still battling high poverty and malnutrition rates.
"Extreme poverty remains above 22% in parts of Eastern and Northern Uganda. This reveals that growth in the sector has not been inclusive. Strategic investment is urgently needed," Minister Rwamirama said.
He highlighted Uganda's new Climate Smart Agriculture Project, supported by the World Bank, and encouraged the private sector to embrace investment-ready opportunities.
"The time is now. Let this summit be remembered not as another conference, but as a turning point where we moved from dialogue to decisive action," he added.
Both FAO and the Government of Uganda affirmed their commitment to ensuring the food systems transformation agenda delivers for all Ugandans.
"FAO will continue working with government and partners to ensure that no one is left behind," concluded assured key stakeholders.
Mr. Edward Walugembe, Commissioner for Strategic Coordination and Implementation in the Office of the Prime Minister, emphasized the need for unity and effective coordination in driving national progress:
"We need to work together to achieve our national development goals. Coordination, connectedness, continuity, and communication are essential in food systems transformation," he said.
He further noted that while Uganda's National Development Plan (NDP) is well-structured, success now hinges on translating plans into action:
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
"Uganda's National Development Plan is fit for purpose, and now we need to focus on implementation, financing, coordination, and governance for food systems transformation are critical for our success."
David Wozemba, AGRA Country Director for Uganda, underscored the importance of a united front in transforming Uganda's food systems.
"The transformation agenda is not a one-person show, it's a collective effort that requires all of us to bring in whatever investment is required to change the ecosystem," Wozemba said.
He stressed the urgency of moving from planning to execution. "With the planning process now complete, it's essential to focus our efforts on ensuring successful implementation."
Dr. Ivan Lule, from the National Planning Authority, reflected on the lessons learned from past disruptions and the strategic ambition of the forthcoming plan:
"We learned critical lessons and hope to do better in NDP4. NDP4 is aligned with the 10-fold growth strategy, aiming to grow our GDP from $50 billion to $500 billion by 2040. Food systems transformation is critical to achieving this goal."
