Tones of fertilizers are ready for export to Uganda to be distributed to farmers freely. The tones are in Tanzania
The Buhweju District Woman MP Nnamara Annet Oyes Byamukama has disclosed that free fertilizer will reach tea and coffee farmers soon which will work alongside a model plantation to demonstrate best agronomy practices.
She said Tea and coffee farmers in Buhweju District will soon receive free fertilizer that will be distributed by the government to boost farming in Uganda aimed at increasing agricultural exports.
Speaking to the eastafricanwatch.net Managing Editor the District Woman MP Hon. Nnamara today said the intervention was secured through the networking pillar of the Buhweju Community Transformation Initiatives Limited (BCTI), which has long advocated for balanced support on both seedlings and inputs.
Nnamara said consistent fertilization is essential for tea quality and yield. The new fertilizer supply is intended to improve leaf quality, raise farm gate prices, and reverse a decline in export earnings linked to poor agronomy. Coffee farmers will also receive fertilizer to strengthen yields ahead of the next season.
A Model Tea Plantation will be established in Buhweju as part of the program. The site will demonstrate correct fertilizer application, pruning, and plucking techniques for farmers looking to benchmark their gardens.
Farmers and BCTI groups have been advised to clear and weed their gardens in preparation, and to attend the demonstration once it is launched. Byamukama emphasized that the fertilizer will be provided at no cost and warned against paying bribes to anyone claiming to facilitate access.
The initiative marks a shift for Uganda’s tea sector, which has historically focused on seedlings over inputs. According to BCTI’s Tea Industry Performance Improvement Strategy 2025, the industry has the potential to generate USD 600 million annually. Exports, however, have dropped from about USD 100 million to USD 50 million, largely due to limited fertilizer use and resulting quality issues.
BCTI says the current distribution is timely and is calling on government to establish a sustainable mechanism for fertilizer access rather than treating it as a one-off intervention.
She added “we as BCTI and the people and farmers of Buhweju district are very grateful to the President Yoweri Museveni for supporting farmers and we are ready to work with him and government to fight poverty.
Hon Nnamara said recently during campaigns they shared their BCTI strategy to the President and are happy some of the things contained in it are being implemented.
“I appeal to our people to look into the real economy deliberately and accept to be given knowledge (education) that we are lacking. That will increase our incomes. Then if we used our networks properly, our knowledge (education) will attract resources to our community”. She said.
“As I speak this, the strategy for revamping the tea industry in Buhweju district is ready. This has been prepared by BCTI and it requires approximately UGX.24 billion. It will create about 49,000 jobs and lead to exports of USD 70 million annually. In addition, it can generate about UGX. 32 billion into a Tea Development Fund (TDF) that BCTI is proposing and which is good for sustainability. The farmers will earn about UGX.4,500,000 per acre annually as net after contributing to the TDF which is much better compared to the current about UGX.2,100,000” Hon Nnamara added.
Mr. Godfrey Byamukama Kereere Chairman BCTI (in photo below) said BCTI is ready to work with government and leadership to support government poverty alleviation programs especially agricultural interventions aimed at boosting agricultural in Buhweju district.
He added “BCTI is reminding the organizers to plan better their anticipated engagement to contribute to transformation using the tea industry. The tea is already in the gardens and what is missing is a clear strategy. BCTI is always available for transformative engagements. Our tea in Buhweju is used to blend other teas especially in Bushenyi and therefore starting the struggle from Buhweju is key for solving the problem elsewhere. BCTI has a clear mechanism on how to make each stakeholder happy. It will not be the first time for a struggle to start from Buhweju”.
A source in government said President Museveni secured several tones of fertilizers in Tanzania which will soon be brought and distributed freely to farmers in Uganda.
