Uganda has stepped up efforts to modernise its agriculture sector after signing a partnership with the Green Hydrogen Fertilizer Company (GHFC) aimed at increasing fertilizer use and improving farm productivity.
The agreement, signed through the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), is expected to support farmer training, strengthen extension services and improve tracking of fertilizer distribution and usage across the country.
The signing ceremony, held at Kampala Serena Hotel on Wednesday, was witnessed by Norway’s Minister of International Development, Åsmund Aukrust, and the country’s Ambassador to East Africa, Tone Tinnes, alongside senior government officials.
Under the arrangement, government and GHFC will roll out demonstration farms, train extension workers and agro-dealers, and leverage digital platforms such as the Agricultural Cluster Development Programme (ACDP) e-voucher system to monitor fertilizer uptake.
PACEID head of secretariat Matthew Bagonza, who signed on behalf of government, described the partnership as a shift towards more productive and commercially viable agriculture.
“This partnership is about transitioning Uganda’s agriculture from low-input, low-output systems to high-productivity, market-driven production capable of competing globally,” he said.
GHFC chief executive officer Kinar Kent said the collaboration lays the groundwork for expanding fertilizer production and supporting long-term transformation of the sector.
He also commended the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development for backing the initiative.
Representing Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze, MAAIF’s inspector for crop inspection and certification, Dr Paul Mwambu, said government will continue to facilitate the project, particularly in final product testing and certification.
“We shall continue to support GHFC, especially in facilitating final product tests and the required certifications before release to the market,” Mwambu said.
GHFC is currently developing a fertilizer plant in Uganda expected to produce about 200,000 tonnes annually, a move that could significantly improve access to affordable inputs.
The initiative is expected to raise yields for key crops such as coffee, maize and cocoa, strengthen agricultural value chains and boost Uganda’s export competitiveness.
