Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, said that the shipment is not just about coffee, but a launchpad for Uganda’s entry into the global industrial landscape as a contributor, innovator, and force of value.
The ESG framework, adopted in 2022 by United Nations agencies, aims to align business operations with environmentally friendly practices as a strategy for conserving biodiversity. In Uganda, the framework is implemented by the Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi) Finance Limited, requiring financial institutions to refrain from financing projects that harm the environment or promote unethical social conduct.
Since its inauguration by President Yoweri Museveni on April 13, 2019, the factory—located in Soroti City East—has primarily focused on processing different varieties of oranges, including Hamlin, Valencia, and Washington Navel.
The project targets people aged 60 years and above, providing them with a source of income post-retirement. Gidudu said many elderly individuals are unable to find formal employment, and this venture will help them remain active and financially self-reliant.
Dr. Aron Kasuku, Senior Veterinary Officer for Jinja City, said the vaccination campaign will begin on Tuesday, May 20, and run through the 24th. He urged farmers in Jinja City to take advantage of the free vaccination initiative and called on Division Veterinary Officers to collaborate with local leaders to ensure its success.
Ismail Drabe, the LC V Chairperson of Madi-Okollo, emphasized that the district’s extensive swamps—covering nearly 60 percent of its territory—and the absence of reliable roads warrant classification under the hard-to-reach category.
The visit focused on learning best practices in service delivery, making Serere the second district this year to study Katakwi's successful models.
Among the important areas benchmarked are local revenue skills mobilization and IRAS management for revenue development, Local Economic Development, and a comparison of agricultural programs such as MAAIF and cooperatives, among others.
The initiative empowers trained youth to fill the longstanding extension services gap, much like Village Health Teams (VHTs) have done in the health sector.
The President and the First Lady, Janet Kataaha Museveni, started a three day zonal visit to the Tooro region to assess the impact of PDM to different beneficiaries.
The floods, which occurred between August and September 2024, destroyed acres of farmland and houses, leaving 149 households in Abok alone counting losses. This year, district leaders are taking a proactive approach by urging communities near wetlands to move before the floods return.
According to George Okello, chairperson of the Tochi Rice Irrigation Growers, the recurring floods have rendered large portions of the scheme unusable. "Since the project was launched, farmers have faced constant flooding and destruction by wild animals. About 600 out of the 860 registered farmers have abandoned their plots due to these challenges," Okello said.
During a monitoring and assessment of the implementation of the eviction exercise in Madi Okollo, Nebbi, and Pakwach, Dr. Omona said animals have already been vaccinated, and the exercise will soon resume.
While inspecting farmers benefiting from the Parish Development Model (PDM) program in the districts of Kasese, Ntoroko, and Bundibugyo, Museveni said he was impressed by individuals in rural areas who have independently taken steps to improve their household incomes.
Martin Ameu, an agronomist with FAO Uganda, said the day serves as a reminder of the crucial role plants play in sustaining life. “Plants provide 80% of the food we eat and 98% of the oxygen we breathe,” he said. “In Uganda, where over 70% of the population relies on agriculture, protecting plant health is not just about farming — it’s about national survival.”
While inspecting different enterprises of farmers under the parish development Model-PDM program in the districts of Kasese, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo on Monday, Museveni said that he started economic empowerment programs in 1966 while in Ankole, steering the cattle farming communities to embrace value addition for their milk products and later took on the gospel on development to the rest of the country.
Lawrence Kimbowa, the Senior Public Relations Officer at UBOS, states that, together with the teams from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), they are setting out to collect the official statistics on people involved in the aquaculture subsector.
The seedlings, which included 500 tonnes of maize seeds, 70 tonnes of rice, a tonne of sunflower seeds, 15 tonnes of soya beans, and one tonne of simsim seeds, will be distributed to 400 registered groups.
President Museveni also urged Ugandans to fight poverty by joining the money economy, emphasising that poverty and social backwardness are the results of some people remaining spectators in the economy.
