Stakeholders across Uganda’s food value chain have been urged to embrace innovation, value addition, and stronger partnerships to unlock the country’s agricultural potential and transform livelihoods. The call was made during the Second Food Industry Symposium hosted by Gudie Leisure Farm, which brought together farmers, processors, regulators, marketers, and development partners to discuss solutions to challenges affecting food production and distribution.

Players in Uganda’s food industry converged at the Second Food Industry Symposium to explore strategies for building a resilient, sustainable, and competitive food system capable of serving both domestic and regional markets.

Speaking at the symposium, the founder and managing director of Gudie Leisure Farm, Dr. Gudula Naiga Basaza, said the event was designed to bring together all actors in the food value chain—from farmers and processors to buyers, marketers, and regulators—to strengthen collaboration and ensure food remains accessible, affordable, and safe for consumers.

Dr. Basaza noted that Uganda’s Vision 2040 places agro-industrialization at the center of the country’s economic transformation agenda, making it necessary to prepare citizens to actively participate in the food industry.

She highlighted Uganda’s abundant natural resources, fertile soils, youthful population, and vast freshwater reserves as key advantages that position the country for agricultural growth and food production.

Despite these opportunities, Dr. Basaza expressed concern that Uganda continues to import food products that can be produced locally, limiting the growth of domestic industries and value chains.

Stakeholders, however, identified several challenges affecting the sector, including counterfeit agricultural inputs, limited access to modern technologies, inadequate irrigation systems, and high post-harvest losses estimated at nearly forty percent.

Speaking at the symposium, Senior Public Relations Officer Gloria Kyampeire Muriisa said the institute continues to support micro, small, and medium enterprises with food processing technologies that improve product quality, extend shelf life, and enhance market competitiveness.

Meanwhile, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards reaffirmed its commitment to supporting farmers and processors through certification and quality assurance services.

Deputy Executive Director in charge of standards, Patricia Bageine Ejalu, said UNBS is exploring innovative approaches, including mobile laboratory services, to bring testing and certification services closer to producers across the country.

Stakeholders at the symposium called for increased investment in agricultural technology, irrigation infrastructure, quality standards, and value addition, saying these interventions are critical to transforming Uganda into a competitive agro-industrial economy.