Kampala, Uganda – Dr. Hilary Musoke Kisanja, the newly appointed Senior Presidential Advisor on Agribusiness, has unveiled a comprehensive plan to overhaul agricultural sector, emphasizing youth engagement, value-added production, and a fundamental shift in the nation’s agricultural mindset.
Speaking to media outlets, Dr. Kisanja detailed his strategic priorities, highlighting the urgent need to move beyond traditional farming practices and embrace modern, commercially viable agribusiness models.
“We want to change the mindset of Ugandans, to make them see agriculture as a business, not just a subsistence activity,” Dr. Kisanja said in a recent address. “We want to make agriculture cool, sexy, and romantic, so that young people can see it as a viable career option.”
Dr. Kisanja emphasized the need to promote agriculture as a commercial venture, rather than just a subsistence activity. He noted that many Ugandans view agriculture as a way of life, rather than a business.
He stressed the importance of aligning the sector with key government initiatives, including the Four-Acre Model, designed to promote sustainable and profitable agricultural practices.
Dr. Kisanja pointedly addressed the long-standing issue of Uganda’s raw material exports and the subsequent costly import of finished goods, citing the stark economic disparity in the leather and cocoa industries as prime examples. “You know, thousands of products are dumped into Uganda, even though the raw materials come from our farms. Take leather, for example. It is taken to Italy, processed, and we buy back the shoes at two million shillings, despite the raw leather costing only three hundred. Our cocoa is shipped to Europe, turned into chocolate, and we buy it back at ten thousand shillings, while a kilo of cocoa, which can produce over a hundred bars, costs only eight thousand here. What went wrong?” he asked, calling for a critical reassessment of Uganda’s trade policies.
He emphasized the necessity of bolstering local production capabilities, particularly in the manufacturing of essential agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and seeds. Kisanja also underscored the importance of fostering stronger collaboration between government agencies, parastatals, and the private sector to create a more efficient and supportive agribusiness environment.
Drawing upon his previous experience as the President’s Private Secretary for youth in agriculture, Kisanja identified young people as a critical target demographic for his initiatives. He outlined plans to create substantial job opportunities by focusing on value chain development, promoting agro-industrialization, and encouraging the establishment of cottage industries.
He further pledged to enhance access to finance for farmers through the establishment of a specialized agricultural bank, designed to provide low-interest loans and support agricultural entrepreneurship.
“We are in the initial stages, and they are showing farmers, in few years, few months, we are going to hear the president pronouncing himself on an agro farmers bank,” he added.
President Yoweri Museveni’s appointment of Kisanja was confirmed by the Presidential Press Secretary Faruk Kirunda, who described him as a “hardworking” individual.
Museveni has consistently championed agribusiness as a cornerstone of Uganda’s economic development and poverty eradication strategy.
Kisanja’s agenda includes integrating practical agricultural education into school curricula through the establishment of demonstration farms and farm days, aiming to instill a passion for agriculture in younger generations.
Dr. Kisanja emphasized Uganda’s potential to become a regional food security leader and a major exporter of high-value agricultural products.
He called for a collective effort from all stakeholders to embrace agribusiness as a transformative force for national development.
