The first UK-Uganda Agro-Industrialisation Forum took place on 27 August 2025, bringing together representatives from the UK and Ugandan governments, farmers, businesses, and development partners to discuss strategies for boosting farm productivity, increasing exports to the UK, enhancing regional food trade, and improving climate resilience. The forum provided a platform to explore collaborative approaches to transforming Uganda’s agricultural sector and strengthening its role in the global market.
Agro-industrialisation is a key pillar of Uganda’s National Development Plan, aiming to enhance agricultural financing, expand agro-industrial infrastructure, improve access to technology, and strengthen value chains to increase the country’s agro-exports. The initiative is central to Uganda’s strategy to modernize agriculture, improve livelihoods, and promote sustainable economic growth.
The UK has a longstanding partnership with Uganda’s agricultural sector, exemplified by initiatives such as Nexus Green’s collaboration with Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment to implement irrigation schemes for farmers. The UK’s £39-million Climate Smart Jobs programme is supporting businesses, researchers, and financial institutions to increase productivity and climate resilience in Northern Uganda. Additionally, the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme facilitates easier access for Ugandan exporters to the UK market.
British High Commissioner to Uganda, H.E. Lisa Chesney, highlighted the importance of transforming agriculture to achieve Uganda’s growth ambitions, noting that collaboration between public and private sector leaders is essential to boost productivity, exports, climate resilience, and sustainable development. She emphasized the UK’s commitment to strengthening ties and supporting Uganda’s agricultural sector.
The forum also aimed to raise awareness of UK agricultural technologies, connect UK and Ugandan agribusinesses, identify trade barriers and solutions for policymakers, increase Ugandan exports through direct links such as Uganda Airlines and the UK’s trading scheme, and engage media outlets to focus on climate change challenges and agricultural solutions.
