A groundbreaking initiative to enhance Uganda Agri-BDS training has officially launched, targeting the upskilling of Agricultural Business Development Service (Ag-BDS) providers. This effort is part of the Ag-BDS Ecosystem Enhancement Project (ABEEP), which aims to empower local business support actors to better serve Agri-SMEs, the backbone of Uganda’s agricultural economy.
Led by the African Management Institute (AMI), Agribusiness Market Ecosystem Alliance (AMEA), and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), and funded by AGRA, the programme focuses on building long-term capacity. Since agriculture employs over 70% of Ugandans and contributes nearly 24% to the GDP, supporting Agri-SMEs is essential for sustainable development. However, challenges such as limited financing, weak market linkages, and fragmented technical assistance continue to hold the sector back.
On June 20, 2025, the project officially kicked off at Hotel Africana in Kampala. Key stakeholders from AGRA, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) participated in the launch, reaffirming the programme’s national relevance.
Revamping the Support Landscape for Agri-SMEs
David Wozemba, AGRA’s Country Director, stressed that meaningful transformation happens when ecosystem actors align their goals and efforts. “We act as catalysts,” he said. “True change emerges when every stakeholder understands their role and contributes solutions to existing gaps.”
Accordingly, ABEEP addresses four urgent priorities:
- Upgrading the skills and tools of Ag-BDS providers
- Improving Agri-SME access to finance, markets, and digital resources
- Promoting inclusion of rural youth and women in targeted value chains
- Formalizing a national framework for business development standards
Alvin Katto, AMI Uganda’s Country Manager, explained that the training adopts a blended learning approach. Over four months, 60 participants will receive practical, guided instruction. “Our model focuses on real-world results. It prepares providers to help clients scale operations, adopt digital tools, and become investment-ready,” Katto explained. Furthermore, trainees will study Uganda’s soon-to-be-adopted BDS standards.
Moving Beyond Fragmented Support Systems
Harrison Kaziro, AMEA’s Uganda Coordinator, emphasized the need to move beyond short-term, donor-dependent projects. “To unlock growth, we must professionalize the entire business development ecosystem,” he noted. Through certification, collaborative networks, and sustainability-focused models, AMEA seeks to overhaul how BDS is practiced in Uganda.
Ronald Kyagulanyi, a research analyst with PSFU, reinforced this point. He urged providers to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset. “We must deliver services that are inclusive, practical, and built for real impact. Growth will come when we treat our own development with the same seriousness we expect from clients,” he said.
Meanwhile, Johnson Abitekaniza, Assistant Commissioner at MTIC, called for a shift in how business development is approached. “We must abandon generic, motivational approaches,” he said. “Effective support should be locally informed, hands-on, and outcome-driven.” He criticized the prevalence of “high-speed consultancy” that overlooks contextual realities.
Tapping Into National Investment Momentum
This Agri-BDS training initiative arrives at an opportune time. Uganda’s 2025/26 budget outlines significant investment in agriculture, particularly agro-industrialization, with an ambitious 8% sectoral growth target. ABEEP directly complements this vision by building a skilled pipeline of professionals ready to support business innovation across the country.
The consortium powering this initiative brings complementary strengths:
- AMI specializes in accessible, practical business education for African SMEs
- AMEA fosters structured development among farmer groups and BDS actors
- PSFU serves as Uganda’s central voice for private sector development
- AGRA acts as a continent-wide driver of agricultural transformation
By aligning national development strategy with ground-level business support, ABEEP is laying the foundation for stronger, more competitive agribusinesses. These 60 trained Ag-BDS providers represent more than trainees—they symbolize a growing movement to professionalize Uganda’s support systems and ensure lasting impact across value chains.
To dive deeper, explore the role of agriculture in Uganda’s GDP growth.
For entrepreneurs, learn how to start a profitable agribusiness in Uganda.
You can also read the original ABEEP coverage on Business Focus Uganda.
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