Odrek Rwabwogo, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), has urged local leaders and farmers in Kazo district, Western Uganda, to actively champion Uganda’s export growth agenda by leveraging their platforms and farming enterprises.
Speaking during a stakeholder training on export readiness held at Kazo District Headquarters Hall on Thursday, June 5, 2025, Rwabwogo emphasized that local leadership and community involvement are key to unlocking the country’s export potential. “We need leaders who inspire change and farmers who understand their value in the global economy,” he said.
Matthew Bagonza, PACEID Head of Secretariat, explains the institution’s four-pillar operation model
“PACEID is here to support you in removing middlemen and linking you directly to markets. This is the future of Uganda’s prosperity.”
Rwabwogo also stressed the importance of good leadership, calling on local authorities to model integrity, vision, and commitment in transforming agriculture into an engine for national development.
The Kazo engagement is part of PACEID’s ongoing nationwide tour to empower farmers and local stakeholders through region-by-region trainings on export readiness. These efforts focus on building sustainable supply chains, improving product quality, and enhancing market access for Ugandan agricultural products.
Fred Bamwiine called for a mindset change
During the event, Fred Bamwiine, a zero-grazing expert and model farmer, shared a powerful testimony on innovation in small-scale dairy farming. Operating on limited land in Kayanja, Kampala, Bamwiine produces 350 litres of milk daily from 30 cows and earns income from seven different lines within the same venture. He challenged farmers to embrace a mindset shift and adopt modern practices to maximize productivity.
“Mindset change is the first export requirement,” Bamwiine noted. “Once you start thinking differently about farming, as a business and not just a tradition, you begin to see new possibilities.”
Kayemba John
Participants also received practical insights on coffee farming from Kayemba John, a coffee nursery specialist at the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) in Kawanda. Kayemba advised farmers on proper coffee planting techniques to ensure high yields and export-grade quality.
Rwabwogo reaffirmed PACEID’s commitment to working with grassroots actors and ensuring that the benefits of the export agenda reach rural communities.
“Our mission is to grow exports by growing you—the farmer, the local leader, the producer,” he said.
Some of the participants in the training session in Kazo
The PACEID initiative is part of the broader government strategy to transform Uganda’s economy through value addition, increased production, and access to international markets.
Some of the leaders present at the training were; Jenifer Abaho Muheesi – Woman MP for Kazo District, Hon. Dan Kimosho – Kazo district Member of Parliament, Moses Mwebaze – RDC Kazo district, Muhanguzi Charles – RDC Kiruhura district, and Rev. Samuel Mugisha Katugunda – LC5 Chairman among others.