A total of 173,913 bags of fertilizer have been dispatched to tea farmers in the Rwenzori, Buganda and Ankole regions as part of a government intervention to restore soil fertility and boost agricultural production. Each bag weighs 50 kilogrammes, with the consignment forming the first batch of more than 300,000 bags earmarked for cocoa, coffee and tea farmers across the country.
The fertilizer was flagged off on Monday at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) headquarters in Entebbe. Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze said the intervention is part of broader efforts to restore soil health that has been degraded by decades of continuous cultivation, deforestation and destruction of wetlands.
“Uganda’s naturally fertile land has been pushed to its limits, leaving soils short of essential nutrients and forcing the country to turn to manufactured fertilizers to replenish what has been lost,” Tumwebaze said. He stressed that the government does not run farms but supports farmers through policy, registration of agricultural inputs, machinery and irrigation facilities.
Tumwebaze said the fertilizer distribution is a targeted intervention rather than a full subsidy, with beneficiaries receiving the inputs at no cost. “This round of support is not a full subsidy but a targeted intervention, where farmers will not pay any money to access these fertilizers,” he said.
Farmers in areas not covered by the first batch have been urged to remain patient as more consignments are expected to follow. The fertilizer is being supplied by ITRACOM, whose Chief Executive Officer, Jeanlac Bigirimana, said the initiative follows a presidential directive issued in October 2023 for the construction of a fertilizer factory at Kampiringisa in Mpigi District.
A formal supply agreement between the government and ITRACOM was signed in May 2026. Bigirimana described the latest consignment as a fulfilment of that vision and pledged that the company would ensure the fertilizer reaches beneficiary districts in accordance with MAAIF guidelines.
He also said ITRACOM would provide farmers with technical support on the effective use of the fertilizer. The planned fertilizer factory will use cow manure as one of its key inputs, creating a market for a by-product that officials say has previously had limited commercial value.
The government is providing land for the factory and has committed to purchasing its fertilizer output once production begins. Officials say the arrangement could eventually contribute to reducing fertilizer prices for farmers. MAAIF Permanent Secretary Kasula Kyomukama said the intervention is also intended to increase fertilizer use in Uganda, which remains significantly below regional and international levels.
“Ugandan farmers apply only one to three kilograms of fertilizer per hectare annually, compared to a sub-Saharan African average of about 40 kilograms and international recommendations of 80 to 100 kilograms,” Kyomukama said. He said the fertilizer being distributed had undergone quality checks conducted in collaboration with Makerere University laboratories and met national and international standards.
Kyomukama said the current batch has been specifically formulated for tea, while future consignments will support coffee, cocoa and other priority crops under the Parish Development Model. He stressed that fertilizer distribution must be accompanied by extension services to ensure farmers apply the inputs correctly. “Distribution will run through Chief Administrative Officers to ensure the inputs reach the intended beneficiaries in an orderly and transparent manner, with every consignment tested before release,” he said.
State Minister for Agriculture Desire Muhooza said the first batch would be distributed to farmer groups completely free of charge, describing the intervention as a fulfilment of presidential campaign pledges. She identified tea-growing communities in Bushenyi, the Rwenzori region, Mityana and other parts of Buganda among the first beneficiaries.
Muhooza also commended ITRACOM for delivering the fertilizer on schedule as farmers prepare for the planting season. Professor Tarsis Kabwegyere, a veteran tea farmer, said tea has the potential to remain productive for generations if adequately nourished and properly managed. He called for farmers to receive practical training in cultivation and harvesting techniques through existing local government structures, saying limited knowledge has contributed to low yields.
Kabwegyere expressed hope that the planned fertilizer factory would consistently produce inputs of the right quality and quantity and that more such factories would eventually be established. The initial distribution is expected to involve about 400 trailers transporting fertilizer to beneficiary districts in the coming weeks, with the supplies timed to reach farmers ahead of the August-November planting season-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
