In Summary: Rebecca Kadaga has urged farmers in Busoga to embrace palm oil growing as an additional source of income, with the region seeking more than 10,000 hectares of land for the project. Kamuli leaders say plans are underway to support the initiative, while farmers have been cautioned against abandoning traditional food and cash crops.
Kamuli, Uganda — First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has rallied farmers in Busoga to embrace palm oil growing, describing it as a potential pathway to tackling poverty and improving household incomes.
In a message delivered on her behalf by the Minister from Busoga Kingdom, Owek. Joyce Abaliwano Mulebeke, Kadaga said the region could not continue relying solely on traditional crops while other parts of the country were benefiting from palm oil production.
Mulebeke delivered the message on Saturday, November 7, 2026, during a palm oil growing sensitisation meeting at the Youth Centre, Kamuli District Headquarters. The meeting brought together farmers, district officials, political leaders, farmer representatives and other stakeholders from Kamuli and Mayuge districts.
The engagement was aimed at mobilising communities across Busoga to consider palm oil growing as part of efforts to expand agricultural production and diversify household incomes.
Mulebeke revealed that Kamuli District Council had already agreed to pass a by-law to support palm oil growing, adding that Kiige government land was expected to serve as a hub for the project in the district.
She said the initiative would require substantial land to support its expansion across Busoga. “We are looking for more than 10,000 hectares of land to support this project in Busoga,” Mulebeke said. “This is not a small project. It is a generational project that will change Busoga.”
However, Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Kamuli Michael Museebe cautioned farmers against abandoning existing crops in anticipation of the palm oil project. He urged households to maintain coffee, bananas, fruit trees and other food crops while considering palm oil as an additional income-generating activity.
“Diversify the economy through palm oil growing. Don’t uproot your crops, however fight poverty,” Museebe said, explaining that farmers could allocate part of their land to palm oil while retaining other sections for food production and traditional cash crops, warning against decisions that could undermine household food security.
Museebe encouraged communities to embrace the project while ensuring that agricultural diversification does not leave families vulnerable to food shortages.
Kamuli District LCV Chairperson Dhizaala Kaloli pledged the district leadership’s support for the initiative, saying local authorities would work with the Kingdom, central government and investors to ensure farmers benefit. “We give total support to palm growers in Kamuli. This is our chance to fight poverty,” Dhizaala said.
Charles Mutyabule, chairperson of the Kamuli District Palm Oil Farmers Association, said local farmers were preparing to participate in the project after benchmarking visits to Kalangala and Buvuma, where palm oil growing is already established.
“We have learnt from Kalangala and Buvuma. We know what works and what doesn’t. Now we are ready for Kamuli,” Mutyabule said.
He added that the association was registering farmers with sufficient land who were interested in participating in the initiative. “Any farmer with land and willing to grow palm oil should come and register. This project is for the people of Busoga,” he said.
Farmers who attended the meeting expressed optimism that the project could create markets, provide employment opportunities for young people and improve household incomes across Kamuli and the wider Busoga region.
The proposed expansion comes as palm oil production in Uganda remains concentrated around island communities in Lake Victoria, particularly Kalangala and Buvuma, which have become established areas for commercial oil palm cultivation.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
