Addis Ababa, Ethiopia –The Minister of State for Agriculture, Hon. Desire Muhooza, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Uganda, formally endorsed the IGAD Regional Agrifood Systems Investment Plan (RASIP) 2026–2035 and the IGAD Regional Seed Policy and Regulatory Framework at the Ministerial Session held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking at the Session, Hon. Muhooza welcomed both instruments and noted that they responded to a region where more than 60 million people remained acutely food insecure due to conflict, recurrent droughts and floods, displacement, pests and diseases, market disruptions and economic pressures. “These challenges do not respect national borders, and neither should our response,” she said.
The Minister emphasised that the RASIP’s projected investment envelope of USD 150 million needed to be translated into practical, bankable and measurable regional interventions that complemented national agrifood systems investment plans. She highlighted areas where regional cooperation was particularly important, including cross-border trade, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, transboundary pests and diseases, pastoral mobility, climate information and regional value chains.
Hon. Muhooza also underscored the importance of the IGAD Regional Seed Policy and Regulatory Framework, describing trade in quality seed as “the starting point of agricultural productivity, food security and climate resilience.” She noted that the Framework provided a practical pathway for addressing fragmented seed laws, certification standards, variety release procedures and quality assurance systems that had constrained the efficient cross-border movement of improved agricultural varieties. “Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, contributing 26.2 percent of GDP, employing close to 70 percent of our labour force and accounting for about 38.5 percent of export earnings,” the Minister said. She added that, through the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Uganda had continued to strengthen agricultural breeding, seed multiplication, inspection, certification, traceability and distribution systems.
Uganda committed to aligning its national priorities with the RASIP, strengthening national and regional planning and reporting linkages, promoting investment in agreed regional priorities, and participating actively in mutual accountability mechanisms associated with the CAADP Biennial Review and Joint Sector Review processes. On the seed agenda, Uganda indicated that it would work towards greater alignment with regional standards, mutual recognition and certification mechanisms, while strengthening engagement with research institutions, private seed companies, farmer organisations and local seed enterprises.
The Minister called on IGAD to establish clear implementation arrangements, prioritise high-impact regional investments and mobilise predictable resources. She also urged development partners to align their support with agreed regional priorities and strengthen coordinated investment in the region’s agrifood systems. “Uganda stands ready to work with IGAD, fellow Member States and our partners to move decisively from endorsement to implementation,” Hon. Muhooza concluded.
The endorsement reaffirmed Uganda’s engagement in regional efforts to strengthen food security, agricultural productivity, climate resilience and intra-regional cooperation, while supporting the development of more integrated and resilient agrifood systems across the IGAD region.
