By David Wozemba
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I In a show of maturity as Africa’s food basket, Uganda hosted the inaugural Agrifood Systems Investment and Financing Summit in Kampala this June.
One of the most resounding messages during the summit was that if we are to tackle poverty, hunger and climate vulnerability decisively, we must rethink how we invest in our food systems.
For too long, discussions around agriculture have been dominated by talk of yields and inputs.
But agriculture today is no longer simply about what we grow. It’s about the intricate systems that move food from our soils to our tables, sustain millions of livelihoods and underpin our national economic resilience.
The Uganda government, development partners and private sector actors have jointly articulated ambitious plans under the National Development Plan IV, the African Union Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration and our commitments from the UN Food Systems Summit.
Yet, beneath these blueprints lies a sobering reality: the scale of investment required to transform Uganda’s agrifood systems far outstrips current financial flows.
As citizens, we must keep demanding that our leaders prioritise financing for agrifood systems, not as a side project but as central to our economic transformation.
As private sector actors, we must explore the untapped opportunities in agribusiness with the same zeal we pursue urban real estate or imports. And as development partners, we must stay the course — supporting Uganda to build robust, resilient, inclusive food systems.
Investing boldly and smartly in Uganda’s agrifood systems is investing in our collective future. It is about jobs, health, wealth creation and safeguarding our natural resources. The time to act is now.
I have a strong conviction that every Ugandan, from the farmer in Bukedea to the trader in in down town Kampala, can thrive.
The writer is the Country Director, AGRA Africa
