Entebbe, Uganda: The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has partnered with China’s Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS) to establish a China-Uganda Joint Laboratory for Sustainable and High-Efficiency Premium Tea Production, a strategic initiative expected to reverse the decades-long slump in Uganda’s tea industry.
The landmark agreement was signed Monday, July 28, at NARO’s headquarters in Entebbe by NARO Director General Dr. Yona Baguma and JAAS Director Dr. Yang Yiyang.
The new laboratory will be housed at NARO’s Rwebitaba Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute in Fort Portal, the country’s designated hub for national tea research.
Once operational, the joint facility will revolutionize Uganda’s tea value chain by tackling major constraints such as declining yields, outdated processing technologies, low value addition, and a narrow export base of raw tea.
“JAAS brings 40 years of specialized tea research to the table. This partnership will reposition Uganda’s tea sector by delivering high-quality planting materials, cutting-edge technologies, and internationally competitive best practices,” said Dr. Baguma, reaffirming NARO’s strategic role in Uganda’s agro-industrial transformation under the National Development Plan.
Uganda’s tea sector—despite its export potential and employment base—has long struggled with aging bushes, poor agronomic practices, weak market competitiveness, and lack of scientific investment. The new laboratory will enable the production of superior planting materials, conduct research on soil fertility, pest and disease management, and facilitate tea product diversification through value addition.
Dr. Yang Yiyang of JAAS underscored quality and innovation as the core pillars of the collaboration. “We see many agricultural similarities between Uganda and China. With this partnership, we aim to explore joint tea breeding, improve agronomic methods, and scale value addition for global competitiveness,” he said.
JAAS, one of China’s most respected agricultural research bodies, established in 1931, comprises 16 specialized institutes and 12 regional branches. Its Tea Research Center has pioneered scientific breakthroughs in tea crop improvement, processing technologies, and product development across Asia and beyond.
Under the agreement, JAAS will finance the joint laboratory and provide technical expertise, while NARO will host and co-lead implementation. The partnership also includes training for Ugandan scientists and technicians, infrastructure upgrades at Rwebitaba, and future joint agricultural projects beyond tea.
The former Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, who accompanied the Chinese delegation, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a game-changer in unlocking Uganda’s agricultural potential.
“The future of Uganda’s tea industry lies in scientific innovation. This laboratory will be a turning point,” Ssempijja said.
Also present at the MoU signing were the President of Green World International Group, Dr. Deming Li, representatives from Nanjing Agricultural University, and top scientists from both NARO’s headquarters and Rwebitaba Institute.
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