Kampala, Uganda: Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo has flagged off the distribution of 109 vehicles and 1,034 motorcycles to strengthen agricultural extension services under the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP).
The fleet, handed over to 69 participating districts, is expected to enhance farmer outreach, improve service delivery, and accelerate implementation of climate-smart agriculture interventions across Uganda.
The six-year UCSATP programme, funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), is part of a broader USD 354 million national investment targeting 3.9 million direct beneficiaries, including communities hosting refugees.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held on April 21, 2026, at Kololo Independence Grounds, Alupo described the vehicles and motorcycles as critical tools for improving efficiency in agricultural service delivery.
“These 109 vehicles and 1,034 motorcycles with their accessories are key tools in strengthening our capacity to deliver services to farmers, improving project implementation efficiency, and accelerating Uganda’s journey towards climate-smart agricultural transformation,” Alupo said.
She noted that limited mobility has long constrained extension workers, particularly in reaching farmers in remote areas.
“For a long time, limited mobility has constrained last-mile service delivery. These assets will now enable extension staff to reach farmers more efficiently, provide timely technical support, strengthen monitoring, and enhance accountability,” she added.
Alupo emphasized strict accountability and proper utilisation of the equipment, warning against misuse of public resources.
“These are public assets entrusted to serve our farmers. There should be no more excuses for failure to deliver services,” she cautioned, urging district leaders to ensure proper maintenance, transparency, and safeguarding of the vehicles and motorcycles.
She reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring the UCSATP delivers tangible results, calling on implementing agencies, districts, and development partners to strengthen coordination and fast-track execution of planned activities.
The Vice President also appealed to the World Bank to sustain technical and financial support, particularly in advancing the AgriConnect initiative aimed at unlocking investment in mechanisation, irrigation, value addition, and market access.
Highlighting progress in the sector, Alupo noted that agriculture continues to be a major driver of employment, exports, and household income.
“Uganda is now the leading coffee exporter in Africa, earning approximately USD 2.4 billion over the past 12 months,” she said, attributing the growth to improved productivity and sector investments.
Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Frank Tumwebaze said the ministry remains committed to equipping extension workers with adequate transport to enhance farm outreach, advisory services, and data collection.
He called on local leaders, including Members of Parliament, LC5 chairpersons, RDCs, DISOs, and councillors, to ensure the assets are properly utilised and maintained.
Tumwebaze also commended the World Bank for prioritising agricultural transformation in its funding framework.
The UCSATP is designed as a system-transforming intervention targeting key constraints in Uganda’s agricultural sector. These include low productivity, limited access to quality inputs, weak extension services, climate shocks, unreliable rainfall, poor market linkages, post-harvest losses, and low mechanisation.
The project is investing across the entire agricultural value chain, including climate-smart research, improved seeds and breeds, mechanisation centres, irrigation systems, water for production, livestock and fisheries development, and institutional strengthening.
The newly flagged-off vehicles and motorcycles are expected to serve as the logistical backbone for extension workers delivering these interventions at the grassroots level.
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