Uganda signs a landmark agreement with Intracom Organic Fertilizers Uganda – SMC Ltd to establish a US$180 million (UGX 675 billion) organic fertilizer factory in Kampiringisa, Mpigi District.
The investment, championed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to transform agriculture, reduce reliance on imports, and create over twenty thousand jobs.
The signing ceremony, presided over by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, brought together senior government officials including Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) Maj. Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama, representatives from the Ministries of Defence, Energy, Water, Gender and Attorney General’s office, as well as Uganda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Amb. Fred Mwesigye.
The factory will sit on 133 acres of land provided by the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development and will be completed in 18 months. Once operational, it will produce 250,000 metric tons of organic fertilizer annually, made from cow dung and minerals.
This local production is expected to save Uganda over UGX 1 trillion every year in fertilizer imports, lowering costs for farmers while ensuring a steady supply of quality inputs.
Prime Minister Nabbanja described the development as a cornerstone of agricultural transformation, “This partnership reflects Uganda’s shared interest in fostering sustainable growth, ensuring food security, and creating economic opportunities for farmers. I commend President Museveni for being visionary and his leadership in making this a reality.”
For years, Ugandan farmers have struggled with poor soil fertility and high input costs. According to Maj. Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama, Permanent Secretary of MAAIF; Uganda’s key needs remain soil fertility, irrigation, mechanization, improved genetics, and a mindset shift among farmers.
Majorly, the Intracom Fertilizer factory will create a ready market for cattle farmers in Uganda’s cattle corridor, who will supply cow dung as a raw material and also address the non-negotiable need for quality fertilizer inputs to boost productivity in the agriculture sector.
Intracom Fertilizer already operates a 350,000 MT capacity plant in Burundi and a 1 million MT facility in Tanzania. Uganda’s factory will be its third major investment in East Africa.
Mr. Adrian Ntigacika, Head of Intracom Fertilizers Uganda, expressed gratitude for the government’s support, “Today’s milestone is proof of our shared commitment to advancing agriculture in Uganda. This factory will empower farmers and strengthen Uganda’s food systems.”
Expected Benefits
- Lower fertilizer prices and improved access for farmers
- Creation of jobs both directly and indirectly
- Stronger food security through higher yields
- Reduced import bill by saving $300 million annually
- Sustainable farming practices that protect the environment
With construction set to begin immediately, the Intracom Organic Fertilizer Factory represents more than just an investment and Uganda is poised to move from dependency on imported fertilizers to becoming a regional leader in sustainable, homegrown solutions for agriculture.
In my wisdom, this partnership is not only about a factory, but about unlocking Uganda’s agricultural potential, empowering farmers, and securing the nation’s future and therefore #M7KuBallot.
By Male Solomon Grace, Communications Officer at the Government Citizen Interaction Centre (GCIC) at State House Uganda
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