On the afternoon of September 6th, Frank Kagyigyi Tumwebaze, Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, visited China Agricultural University(CAU) and delivered a speech on the topic of “Understanding Agriculture Developmentand Rural Transformation in Uganda”. The event was joint organized by WAFI 2024, the Rural Forum for China and Weicun Lecture.

Minister Tumwebaze began his speech by thanking China Agricultural University for its warm reception. He stated that Uganda is endowed with excellent agricultural resources, with 60% to 70% of the land classified as agricultural land capable of producing a variety of rich agricultural products, including rice, fruits, coffee. However, as a traditional agricultural country, Uganda faces challenges, such as limited agricultural mechanization and a subdued domestic market, which have constrained the development of its agricultural sector.

He emphasized that the Ugandan government is currently implementing the Fourth National Development Plan, focusing on rural transformation and income growth, while promoting the development of agricultural industrialization. As leading agricultural university in the world, CAU possesses many advanced technologies in crop breeding, animal disease prevention and control, agricultural machinery and digitalization. He hopes for further in-depth cooperation with CAU in the future to enhance Uganda’s agricultural production and management and to assist in agricultural transformation and development. He expressed his desire for more experts from CAU to come to Uganda to provide technical support, as well as for more Ugandan agricultural technicians to receive training and education at CAU

Figure: Mr. Tumwebaze at the event

Dr. Antonio Querido, FAO Country Representative in Uganda, shared Uganda’s continuous efforts in tackling hunger and malnutrition from the perspective of agricultural development. He expressed appreciation for China’s contribution in Uganda’s agricultural transformation.

Anthony Mula, Executive Assistant to Ugandan Vice President and South-South Cooperation Program Officer, introduced the challenges faced by Uganda in agriculture technology, value-added agricultural products, and the marketing of agricultural products. He anticipates growing cooperation between Uganda and CAU in rural transformation and development.

Shu Xiaoli, Manager of China-Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park, shared her working experience and thoughts on Uganda. She expressed hope that more young people would participate in the agricultural development of China-Uganda relations.

Frank, a representative of Ugandan farmers, spoke about Ugandan coffee and other agricultural products, sharing Uganda’s efforts to improve the quality and international competitiveness of agricultural products. He hopes to strengthen Uganda’s cooperation with China to jointly promote the development of Uganda’s agricultural sector.

Figure: Speaking guests at the event

China Agricultural University (CAU) has maintained close cooperation with Uganda in recent years. In November 2023, President Sun Qixin led a delegation to visit Uganda, during which the School of International Development and Global Agriculture signed a framework cooperation agreement with Uganda’s Busoga Region. In March 2024, Professor Tang Lixia, Deputy Secretary General of CAU’s National Institute for Rural Revitalization, led a delegation to visit Uganda’s Busoga Region to implement agricultural transformation projects in three villages. In April 2024, Rose Kabagyeni, Senior Presidential Advisor for Agricultural Affairs of Uganda, led a delegation to visit CAU, and the two sides discussed further cooperation under the framework of South-South Cooperation in agriculture. In August 2024, CAU and Uganda Busoga Development Alliance launched a project for three model villages focused on agricultural transformation and development in Uganda and collaborated with Tencent to launch the African Youth Revitalization Action Plan. The official Ugandan Busoga TV, China South-South Cooperation Network, Farmer’s Daily and other Chinese and Ugandan media have reported related matters.

Maj. Gen. David Kasura-Kyomukama, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda; Dr. Anna Rose Okurut Ademun, the Director of Animal Health, Division of Animal Husbandry; Joseph Bwanika, the Acting Director, Department of Fisheries Resources; Paul Mwanbu, the Director of Crop Inspection and Certification; and Professor Tang Lixia, Deputy Secretary General of the National Institute for Rural Revitalization of CAU, participated in this event.