Tumwebaze says to prioritise low-interest financing for farmers

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Frank Tumwebaze has said access to finance for all farmers is one of the key areas of focus for his second term in office as the agriculture, animal industry and fisheries minister.

This will be achieved through his planned engagement with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to continue unlocking low-interest loans through financial institutions such as the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) and other government-affiliated financial institutions.

“This is part of our flagship project where we shall be working with the finance ministry to continue opening up low-interest loans to support all three categories of farmers, who include small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale farmers,” Tumwebaze said.

Tumwebaze, also the Member of Parliament for Kibale County in Kamwenge district, explained that if a larger share of arable land is put to use, Uganda will achieve its goal of becoming the region’s food basket.

He noted that Uganda currently has 6,900,000 hectares of arable land, of which only 35 per cent is cultivated.

He made the remarks on Monday (June 1) at Parliament shortly after appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament, after his name was proposed by President Museveni among ministers appointed to continue serving in the agriculture docket.

The other nominees to be vetted were Desire Muhooza, the Kiboga District Woman MP who is the agriculture state minister-designate, Robert Migadde, the Buvuma Island MP who is the fisheries state minister-designate, and Bright Rwamirama for animal husbandry.