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By Spy Uganda
The call to transform Uganda’s agricultural sector took center stage on Monday as Dr. Patience Rwamigisa, Assistant Commissioner for Agricultural Extension Coordination at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, delivered a keynote address at the opening of the Uganda Agricultural Extension Week.
Speaking to stakeholders from across the agricultural value chain, Dr. Rwamigisa emphasized that professionalizing the agricultural extension workforce is critical to unlocking Uganda’s agricultural potential and ensuring sustainable growth.
He traced the evolution of Uganda’s extension services to the adoption of the National Agriculture Extension Policy in 2016, which introduced a pluralistic approach to service delivery. While allowing multiple actors to provide extension services, the policy positioned the public system as the central coordinating “single spine” to ensure coherence and effectiveness.
Despite these reforms, Dr. Rwamigisa acknowledged persistent challenges, including fragmented service delivery, weak coordination among institutions, and limited investment in human resource development. “This is not a failure of individuals, it is a failure of systems,” he noted, stressing that the current workforce is often under-supported and ill-prepared to meet the demands of modern agriculture.
He underscored that agriculture today extends beyond production to include markets, climate resilience, digital innovation, and nutrition. As such, extension workers must evolve into facilitators of innovation and connectors within increasingly complex agri-food systems.
Dr. Rwamigisa highlighted professionalization as an urgent priority, defining it as the recognition of agricultural extension as a regulated and respected profession. This would involve establishing certification and licensing systems, enforcing ethical standards, and creating clear career pathways to attract and retain talent.
He also pointed to delays in enacting the National Agriculture Extension Bill, urging stakeholders to advocate for its revival under the incoming government. “We need to position ourselves to get this bill back on track,” he said.
Among the strategic priorities outlined were strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks, investing in human capital development, and improving the attractiveness of agricultural careers, especially for youth. He revealed ongoing efforts by the ministry to collaborate with universities, including Mountains of the Moon University, to promote practical training through farm-based internships.
The initiative aims to accredit at least 350 farms as training sites, where students will spend six months gaining hands-on experience to better prepare them for the workforce.
Dr. Rwamigisa also stressed the importance of partnerships across government, academia, private sector, and development partners to build a cohesive agricultural innovation system. He noted that weak linkages between universities, policymakers, and farmers have hindered the adoption of research and innovation.
The event is expected to produce a comprehensive communiqué with actionable recommendations to strengthen extension services, promote climate-smart agriculture, and enhance coordination across the sector.
Ultimately, Dr. Rwamigisa said, professionalization is about more than systems, it is about dignity, trust, and ensuring that every farmer has access to reliable advisory services.
“When we professionalize our agricultural workforce, we do more than improve services, we unlock the full potential of Uganda’s agriculture,” he concluded.
, https://www.spyuganda.com/lets-act-now-commissioner-rwamigisa-pushes-bold-reforms-to-modernize-agricultural-extension/
