By Diana N. Kintu
Uganda has unveiled a new national coalition for inclusive prosperity, bringing together key government institutions and farmer organisations to accelerate agricultural transformation.
According to a statement, the coalition brings together Operation Wealth Creation, Uganda Development Forum, Uganda National Farmers Federation, the Parish Development Model Secretariat, and local government authorities under a coordinated framework aimed at addressing persistent barriers within the sector.
The coalition was announced as a structural shift in Uganda’s wealth creation architecture, moving beyond isolated interventions towards integrated, district-level implementation.
“This is not a ceremonial arrangement. It represents a fundamental restructuring of how government programmes are designed, communicated, demonstrated and embedded at the grassroots level,” the briefing noted.
Uganda’s agricultural sector employs more than 70 per cent of the workforce, yet millions of households remain trapped in subsistence farming. According to the statement, fragmented land holdings, limited access to agricultural inputs, weak post-harvest infrastructure and exclusion from credit have kept rural poverty persistently high.
Young people, who make up more than 70 per cent of the population, are increasingly abandoning agriculture because they perceive it as neither modern nor profitable.
The coalition’s response includes farmer education at parish level, structured enterprise selection and incubation, as well as live demonstrations to showcase successful models. OWC extension officers and local government production officers will guide households into viable value chains before capital is disbursed.
“Capital without capacity is not development,” the coalition emphasised, underscoring the need for enterprise readiness and stronger market linkages.
Local governments have been activated as critical last-mile champions, with Chief Administrative Officers and Town Clerks tasked with mobilising farmers, allocating resources and ensuring accountability.
According to the statement, this decentralised accountability model will measure outcomes based on the number of beneficiaries successfully transitioned into commercial enterprises.
Youth engagement has been placed at the centre of the programme. Through Presidential Skilling Hubs, young Ugandans are receiving training in modern agricultural technologies, agro-processing and enterprise management.
Early evidence indicates that young people who receive integrated training, access to capital and mentorship are transitioning at higher rates into sustainable agro-enterprises.
The coalition will showcase its work at the National Agricultural Show and the National Agricultural Education Show, scheduled to take place from 26 June to 11 July 2026 in Jinja.
The Wealth Creation Village, coordinated by Operation Wealth Creation, will feature beneficiaries of PDM, Emyooga and Presidential Skilling Hubs showcasing their enterprises and sharing their success stories. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to attend as the Guest of Honour.