Uganda's government has committed to a partnership with Control Union Academy to train farmers, exporters and agricultural stakeholders to ensure local farm products meet international quality standards from production to consumer delivery. The initiative targets high-value exports including organic coffee, fine tea, fresh fruits, vegetables and specialised grains, with the aim of strengthening agricultural value chains and improving competitiveness in premium markets across Europe, the United States, Canada and Japan.
Dr Teddy Asio, Assistant Commissioner in charge of Seed Inspection and Certification at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, said during the academy's official launch in Kampala that producing consistently high-quality and certified products would help Ugandan exporters secure better prices and expand international market presence. 'By shifting our focus towards consistently high-quality and certified premium products, Ugandan agricultural exports will not only secure a competitive edge but will also trigger sustained higher demand and command premium prices on the international market,' Dr Asio said. The ministry is also implementing an EU-funded project to strengthen its regulatory functions and improve export certification systems.
Tadeo Kalamaga, Managing Director of Control Union Uganda, explained that accessing premium markets requires strict compliance with buyer requirements and internationally recognised certification standards such as EU Organic Certification, the United States Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program, and Japanese Agricultural Standards. He noted that although international demand for Ugandan organic products remains strong, significant quantities are rejected because of quality deterioration during harvesting, storage and post-harvest handling. Inadequate technical knowledge among smallholder farmers is a major challenge affecting compliance, he said.
Uganda's agricultural exports have long faced challenges from failure to meet international quality and certification requirements, resulting in costly rejections and destruction of returned produce. The academy will provide specialised training and certification programmes to equip stakeholders with knowledge needed to reduce export rejections and increase market access. Chariton Namuwooza, Chairperson of the National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU), welcomed the initiative, saying strict adherence to organic production standards could increase international demand for Ugandan agricultural products.
Uganda ranks second globally in the number of certified organic farmers, behind India, according to NOGAMU. The number of certified organic farmers in Uganda increased from 230,000 in 2019 to 741,000 by December 2025. Namuwooza urged farmers and exporters to prioritise value addition to increase earnings, noting that the expanding organic agriculture value chain has significant potential to create employment opportunities, particularly for young people.