Agric. & Environment
Govt to develop new irrigation programme to tackle drought
“We are discussing with finance minister Henry Musasizi and [the ministry’s] permanent secretary Ramadhan Ggoobi to come up with a big irrigation program for the country. We are trying to make sure we build the capacity of the country’s irrigation infrastructure.”
Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze. (File photo)
By: Umaru Kashaka, Journalist @New Vision
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Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze has said the Government is discussing with the Ministry of Finance to come up with “a big irrigation program” for the country to tackle drought and enable farmers to grow crops throughout the year.
He said on September 9, 2026, that the current drought, which threatens to cause a severe food crisis across the country, is unprecedented.
“We are discussing with finance minister Henry Musasizi and [the ministry’s] permanent secretary Ramadhan Ggoobi to come up with a big irrigation program for the country. We are trying to make sure we build the capacity of the country’s irrigation infrastructure,” he said.
Tumwebaze noted in an interview with New Vision that, as a country, irrigation was not prioritised because nature had been on their side for many years.
“And so, the priorities of financing were many [like] peace and security, but now it is time for the Government to prioritise irrigation and develop the infrastructure,” he said.
Tumwebaze noted in an interview with New Vision that, as a country, irrigation was not prioritised because nature had been on their side for many years.
“And so, the priorities of financing were many [like] peace and security, but now it is time for the Government to prioritise irrigation and develop the infrastructure,” he said.
The current micro-scale irrigation programme supports farmers to purchase and use individual irrigation equipment through a matching grant scheme, under which the cost of the equipment is co-financed by the farmer and the Government.
The programme caps the support at 2.5 acres (1 hectare), meaning it is expected to benefit mainly smallholder farmers interested in transitioning from mainly subsistence to more commercial agriculture, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
In addition, the farmer receives complementary services such as extension support in irrigated agriculture.
“Micro-scale irrigation is when a farmer irrigates a small plot. For example, a farmer can use a pump to take water from a nearby stream, and a hose to distribute the water in the plot,” says the Agriculture Ministry on its website.
The programme caps the support at 2.5 acres (1 hectare), meaning it is expected to benefit mainly smallholder farmers interested in transitioning from mainly subsistence to more commercial agriculture, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
In addition, the farmer receives complementary services such as extension support in irrigated agriculture.
“Micro-scale irrigation is when a farmer irrigates a small plot. For example, a farmer can use a pump to take water from a nearby stream, and a hose to distribute the water in the plot,” says the Agriculture Ministry on its website.