Uganda has unveiled a bold $1.4 billion strategy that aims to transform the country into a regional food hub, with a particular focus on scaling up dairy production and modernizing agricultural value chains.
The plan seeks to raise annual milk output from the current 3.85 billion litres to 6.4 billion litres, a leap expected to position Uganda as one of Africa’s leading dairy producers. To achieve this, the government will establish integrated dairy hubs equipped with modern processing facilities capable of handling, packaging, and distributing large volumes of agricultural products for both domestic and regional markets.
Officials highlighted that the initiative is not only about expanding production but also about strengthening Uganda’s role in tackling food shortages across East Africa. By investing in large-scale infrastructure and value-added processing, the country intends to cut reliance on imports while creating sustainable supply chains that can withstand shocks.
Beyond food security, the $1.4 billion plan is projected to revitalize rural economies by guaranteeing stable markets for farmers and improving farm-gate prices. It is also expected to stimulate job creation across logistics, processing, and support services, while offering opportunities for agribusiness innovation.
Government representatives described the move as a turning point for Uganda’s agricultural sector, which has long been a pillar of the economy but often hindered by low productivity and limited value addition. The strategy, they noted, will industrialize farming and drive the nation’s shift from subsistence to competitive regional trade.
If fully implemented, the initiative could see Uganda emerge as a food powerhouse for East Africa, with dairy as its flagship export and integrated hubs serving as engines of both economic growth and food security.