Legislators debating a motion to appreciate President Yoweri Museveni for his State of the Nation Address have called for improved access to agricultural support to enable Ugandans to increase production and improve their livelihoods.
The MPs raised concerns over what they described as gaps in the distribution of agricultural inputs, irrigation support and farm machinery, particularly among smallholder farmers.
Gulu City Woman Representative Betty Aol (PFF) criticised the distribution of animals under the government’s restocking programme in the Acholi sub-region, saying the programme has benefited only a few households.
Ms Aol said the allocation of five animals per household per quarter was inadequate and unevenly distributed, yet many residents depend on oxen to plough their gardens because they have limited access to tractors and other mechanised agricultural equipment.
“Right now, poverty is going up because my people cannot go into commercialisation of agriculture. While the President talked about Kisanja No Sleep, where he wants resources to reach the grassroots, he has started late,” she said.
President Museveni delivered the State of the Nation Address to Parliament on June 4, 2026, in which he reiterated the need to promote intensive agriculture among farmers with small pieces of land and extensive agriculture for those with larger land holdings.
Otuke District Woman Representative Susan Abeja urged the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to ensure coffee seedlings are distributed during the appropriate planting season.
Ms Abeja said farmers in Otuke often receive seedlings during the dry season, making it difficult for them to establish coffee plantations.
“We are yearning to promote coffee in Otuke District but we have a challenge of drought. I call on government to support our farmers with low-financing irrigation systems and also carry out regional mapping to identify what coffee types are fit for our soils,” she said.
Terego District Woman Representative Rose Obigah (NRM) called for urgent intervention to address flooding in Imvepi Refugee Settlement, saying the situation has affected agricultural activities.
“WaterAid tried to construct a project for agriculture for water production, but they touched the eye of the water. The water has now flooded farms in Imvepi. I ask the responsible minister to come to Terego and reign in on the situation,” Ms Obigah said.
State Minister for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama told Parliament that the contractor had abandoned the water project, but said government was working to restore it.
“We are very aware about that case and our technical people are on the ground with those from the Ministry of Water, and the problem is being solved,” Mr Rwamirama said.
Terego East County MP Wilfred Babanga called for government support to equip the district with machinery for mechanised agriculture, including in refugee settlements.
“If we are to participate in the expanded economy of this country, our people need to be supported with a tractor in every sub-county so that they can till land and meaningfully participate in economic transformation,” Mr Babanga said.
In his State of the Nation Address, President Museveni said government was addressing the challenge of irrigation across the country to stabilise the agriculture sector.
He cited the development of micro solar-powered irrigation schemes in partnership with British company Nexus Green.
“As we speak, they have worked with government to put solar-powered irrigation systems in the districts of Ngora, Serere, Bukedea, Amolatar, Kwania, Apac, Kasanda, Masaka and Mukono,” Mr Museveni said.
He said Uganda’s economic transformation would be driven by four key sectors—commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and information and communication technology (ICT).
