Uganda is moving to translate Africa’s new agricultural commitments into national policies, investments and measurable results as implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035 gets underway.

The development follows a three-day high-level policy dialogue held in Kampala from September 9 to 11, bringing together Ugandan government officials, African Union representatives and officials from ministries and government agencies.

The discussions focused on how Uganda can domesticate the Kampala CAADP Declaration, which was adopted by African leaders in Kampala in January 2025 as a new framework for building more resilient and sustainable African food systems.

From Agricultural Commitments to Action

Uganda’s approach is to incorporate the continental agriculture strategy into existing national development programmes rather than establish a separate policy framework.

The implementation will be linked to Uganda Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), the 2026–2031 government manifesto and the country’s agro-industrialisation programme.

The objective is to turn Uganda’s agricultural potential into higher farmer incomes, more employment, improved food and nutrition security, stronger agro-industries and increased agricultural exports.

This approach reflects a broader shift in African agricultural policy—from simply increasing production towards building competitive food and agricultural industries.

Uganda Wants More Value from Agriculture

A major focus of the implementation agenda will beUganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Cooperation Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, centre, meets African Union (AU) Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment Moses Vilakati during the second meeting on Day One of the three-day Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) meeting in Kampala on September 10, 2026. PHOTO/COURTESY. and value addition.

Uganda’s Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Minister Sanjay Tana said the country needs to move beyond primary production by strengthening processing, branding, market positioning and exports.

Agricultural value chains including coffee, milk, tea, honey, shea butter and fruit present opportunities to generate greater value if more production can be processed and marketed within Uganda and across international markets.

For farmers, this could create opportunities beyond selling raw commodities, particularly as demand grows for processed African agricultural products.

Climate-Smart Agriculture and Technology

The new continental agriculture strategy also places greater emphasis on resilient food systems.

African farmers are increasingly dealing with unpredictable rainfall, drought, land degradation, rising production costs and other climate-related pressures.

The African Union has therefore identified areas such as climate-smart agriculture, improved access to agricultural inputs, extension services, technology and markets as important components of implementation.

For Uganda and other African countries, the challenge will be turning these priorities into practical services that reach farmers rather than remaining at policy level.

Regional Trade Could Unlock New Markets

Uganda is also looking to strengthen regional and continental agricultural trade.

Government officials highlighted the importance of facilitating the movement of agricultural products and improving market access, while Uganda’s mission to the African Union is expected to play a role in connecting the country’s productive sectors with wider continental and international markets.

Greater regional trade could provide farmers and processors with larger markets while supporting the development of agricultural value chains.

The opportunity is particularly significant under the broader African push towards increased intra-African trade and reduced dependence on imported food and agricultural products.

What the CAADP Plan Means for African Farmers

The new CAADP framework represents an important test for African governments.

The continent has enormous agricultural potential, but farmers continue to face challenges involving finance, inputs, infrastructure, technology, markets and climate resilience.

The success of the 2026–2035 strategy will therefore depend on implementation at country level.

Uganda’s latest policy dialogue is an early example of how countries can begin translating the Kampala Declaration into national programmes and investments.

If successfully implemented, the approach could help Uganda increase agricultural productivity while creating stronger links between farmers, processors, exporters, investors and consumers.

A Wider Test for Africa’s Food Future

Uganda’s move comes as Africa begins implementing a new decade-long agricultural strategy designed to build resilient and sustainable agri-food systems.

The Kampala Declaration replaced the previous Malabo framework and sets the direction for Africa’s agricultural transformation from 2026 to 2035.

The real measure of success, however, will not be the number of policies adopted or meetings held. It will be whether farmers see better access to finance, improved inputs and extension services, stronger markets, higher incomes and greater opportunities to participate in value-added agricultural businesses.

For Uganda, the implementation process has now begun. For the rest of Africa, the country’s experience could offer an indication of how effectively the continent’s new agricultural commitments can move from declarations into results.