The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to affordable financing for farmers across Uganda, as part of broader efforts to boost agricultural productivity and position the country as a global food basket.
The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, said government will continue working closely with the Ministry of Finance to ensure farmers benefit from favourable low-interest loans through the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) and other government-backed financial institutions.
Tumwebaze made the remarks on Monday while speaking to the media shortly after appearing before the Committee on Appointments for vetting as a presidential nominee for a ministerial position.
The Committee on Appointments, chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth Oboth, has commenced the vetting of presidential nominees, an exercise expected to run until Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Under Rule 173 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, the committee is mandated to approve nominees appointed by the President in accordance with the Constitution.
According to Tumwebaze, the financing initiative is intended to support all categories of farmers, including small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale producers, to ensure inclusive agricultural growth.
“Our flagship project for smallholder farmers will continue, while for large-scale farmers, we shall work with the Ministry of Finance to continue opening up favourable low-interest loans through UDB and other government banks so that all clusters of farming are supported,” Tumwebaze said.
He noted that Uganda possesses vast agricultural potential and could become a major global food supplier if more arable land is effectively utilized.
“If a big part of the arable land we have in Uganda can be put to right use, Uganda will be a real food basket for the world,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Minister in the Office of the President in Charge of Science, Technology and Innovation, Eng. Jonard Asiimwe Akiki, underscored the importance of innovation across all sectors of the economy, saying no field should be left behind in Uganda’s technological advancement.
Speaking after his vetting, Eng. Akiki said science, technology and innovation should not be limited to information technology alone but should serve as key drivers of progress across every sector of society.
He explained that advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies present opportunities for sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and ICT to improve efficiency and transform livelihoods.
“In medicine, innovation is critical for improving healthcare services and saving lives. In agriculture, technology can boost productivity and transform livelihoods, while in IT, high-performance computing is increasingly becoming necessary to drive digital transformation,” he said.
Eng. Akiki emphasized that no sector should be considered less important, arguing that innovation must be embraced universally to accelerate development and improve service delivery.
He further noted that the pace of technological advancement requires governments, institutions, and communities to adapt quickly in order to harness opportunities presented by science and innovation.
The minister reiterated government’s commitment to promoting science, technology and innovation as key pillars of socio-economic transformation and urged stakeholders across different sectors to embrace innovative approaches in solving everyday challenges.
