ENTEBBE, September 4, 2026 — Government has launched the distribution of free fertilisers to coffee, tea and cocoa farmers across the country as part of efforts to boost yields, improve household incomes and increase export earnings.
Through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF], the Government has procured at least 173,913 bags of fertilisers from Itracom Fertilizers Uganda Limited to help farmers restore soil fertility, increase agricultural productivity and improve their incomes.
The distribution exercise, launched at the MAAIF headquarters in Entebbe, is being implemented under a Presidential Directive to support farmers engaged in strategic and high-value agricultural enterprises, with emphasis on the three major cash crops.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, said the intervention is part of the Government’s broader commitment to transforming agriculture through increased productivity, evidence-based farming and improved access to critical agricultural inputs.
“We are entering a new era of farming where decisions must be guided by evidence. Farmers need to apply the right input, in the right quantity and at the right time if we are to achieve higher productivity and better incomes,” Tumwebaze said.
Tumwebaze emphasised the importance of precision agriculture, urging farmers to embrace soil testing and apply the right fertiliser to the right crop, in the right quantity and at the right time.
He also called for continued prioritisation of smallholder farmers, noting that Government interventions should focus on those who need support most.
The Permanent Secretary of MAAIF, Maj. Gen. David Kasura-Kyomukama, said the intervention addresses Uganda’s persistently low fertiliser use and declining soil fertility, which continue to constrain agricultural productivity.
“This launch is not merely ceremonial. It is a practical intervention to restore soil fertility, increase productivity and enable our farmers to participate more fully in the money economy,” Kasura-Kyomukama said.
He noted that Uganda’s fertiliser use remains low at approximately 2–3 kilogrammes per hectare, compared with the continental average of 22 kilogrammes and the Abuja target of 50 kilogrammes per hectare.
Kasura-Kyomukama said the Ministry is putting in place a distribution system based on speed, proximity and accountability, ensuring that fertiliser is delivered closer to farmers while safeguarding against diversion.
“There will be no fees, no charges and no diversion. These fertilisers are a Government intervention and must reach the farmers for whom they are intended,” he said.
The launch was attended by representatives of several Government institutions, local governments and agricultural stakeholders, highlighting the Ministry’s coordinated approach to supporting Uganda’s agricultural transformation.
The Country Representative of Itracom Fertilizers Uganda Limited, Jean Luc Bigirimana, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working with government to ensure the timely delivery of fertiliser to designated districts.
Bigirimana said the company would go beyond supplying the fertiliser by supporting farmers with the knowledge required for its proper application.
“Our commitment is clear: we will ensure that the fertiliser reaches the designated districts as guided by the Ministry, while providing the necessary knowledge and support to enable farmers to achieve optimal results,” he said.
He commended Government for creating an enabling environment for local fertiliser production and appreciated the support of the President, MAAIF, the Ministry of Finance, Operation Wealth Creation and other Government agencies.
MAAIF has put in place measures to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the distribution process.
These include verified beneficiary lists, proper documentation, secure delivery points, immediate distribution, and reporting at district and parish levels.
The fertiliser will be clearly marked “Government of Uganda – Not for Sale”, and beneficiaries will not be required to pay for it under the intervention.
MAAIF will also undertake follow-up activities to assess how the fertiliser is being utilised, its impact on crop productivity and the challenges encountered by farmers.
The findings will help inform future agricultural input-support programmes.
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