By Buwule Joseph Mary
1 April 2026, Kampala, Uganda — The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Qu Dongyu, has appointed Ezana Kassa as the new FAO Representative in Uganda, following approval by the Government of the Republic of Uganda.
Mr. Kassa replaces Antonio Querido and succeeds Yergalem Taages Beraki, who has been serving in an acting capacity.
An Ethiopian national, Mr. Kassa is an experienced agriculturist with over a decade of work in agriculture, rural development, food security, and resilience programming across the Horn of Africa. He brings a strong track record of implementing impactful programmes in complex and fragile settings.
He joined FAO in 2015 as a Project Manager in South Sudan, where he worked closely with communities to strengthen livelihoods and build resilience to recurring shocks. From 2019 to 2021, he served as Emergency Coordinator for FAO Somalia, leading key emergency and resilience interventions in partnership with national authorities, United Nations agencies, and humanitarian actors.
Most recently, Mr. Kassa has been serving as Senior Programme Officer for FAO Somalia, where he provided strategic leadership and policy guidance to the country programme. In this role, he oversaw programme planning and implementation, led the development of the Country Programming Framework, and represented FAO in major United Nations coordination platforms.
Before joining FAO, he held senior leadership roles with international non-governmental organizations, including Country Director for Action Africa Help International and Programme Manager for Norwegian People’s Aid, where he managed large, multidisciplinary teams.
Mr. Kassa holds a Global Executive Master of Business Administration from the United States International University in Nairobi, a Master of Science in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development from the University of London, and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Haramaya University in Ethiopia.
Speaking about his appointment, Mr. Kassa expressed optimism about Uganda’s potential:
“Uganda, famously known as the Pearl of Africa, holds immense potential to become a beacon of food security and prosperity in the region. I am honored to join the FAO Uganda team and to work alongside government partners and rural communities to advance inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems that improve the lives of all Ugandans.”
He added that FAO will continue to support strategic investments aligned with global initiatives, including the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, aimed at boosting productivity, strengthening rural economies, and improving livelihoods.
FAO has maintained a long-standing partnership with Uganda, supporting efforts to transform agrifood systems, enhance resilience, and promote sustainable development. Mr. Kassa’s leadership is expected to further strengthen partnerships, drive innovation, and deliver meaningful results for farmers and communities across the country.
