KAMPALA – Grain sector stakeholders from Uganda and Kenya have launched a four-day business exchange and peer-to-peer learning programme aimed at strengthening regional trade, promoting value addition, and creating new business partnerships across East Africa.
The initiative, organised by the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) in partnership with Danish Industry East Africa, has brought together grain traders, processors, cooperatives, warehouse operators, and agribusiness SMEs from both countries.
Speaking at the opening of the programme held at Fairway Hotel in Kampala, Paul Ochuna, Uganda Country Program Manager and Finance Manager at EAGC, said the exchange was designed to transform informal trade relationships into structured commercial partnerships.
“We know that trade between Uganda and Kenya is already happening, but we want to structure this trade better. We want to improve this trade by addressing the constraints that currently exist and promoting business relationships that are supported by contracts and long-term partnerships,” Ochuna said.
He explained that participants would engage in business-to-business meetings before embarking on field visits to leading grain processing companies, warehouse operators, cooperatives, and agribusiness exhibitions in Uganda.
“The objective is to expose participants to grain processing technologies, quality assurance systems, certification requirements, storage management, packaging, labelling, and market operations. We want this programme to generate real business opportunities, not just discussions,” he added.
Herbert Kyeyamwa, Country Director of EAGC Uganda, described the grain sector as the backbone of East Africa’s agricultural economy and emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among regional players.
“The grain sector is much more than just another agricultural subsector. It is the lifeblood of our economies. It supports millions of livelihoods, from smallholder farmers and aggregators to processors, traders, transporters, and consumers,” Kyeyamwa said.
He noted that challenges such as market access limitations, post-harvest losses, quality management issues, and barriers to regional trade continue to constrain growth.
“We must aim for outcomes that go beyond learning. This programme has been carefully designed to generate tangible business results. We expect the engagements initiated here to evolve into real commercial partnerships and business transactions—not just discussions confined to meeting rooms,” he said.
Kyeyamwa also revealed plans for a reverse trade mission to Kenya later this year, which will allow Ugandan agribusinesses to learn from their Kenyan counterparts and explore new market opportunities.
Representing Kenyan farmers and cooperatives, Nahashon Kagiri, Director of EAGC Kenya and Chairman of Ng’arua Cereals and Produce Cooperative Society in Laikipia County, highlighted the role of cooperatives in promoting food security and improving market access for smallholder farmers.
“The primary objective behind establishing our cooperative was to enhance food security within our community. We observed that many farmers would sell all their produce immediately after harvest and later face food shortages. Through aggregation, we have been able to improve food availability and market access,” Kagiri said.
He noted that the cooperative currently aggregates maize, wheat, and beans and supplies institutions, traders, schools, and hospitals across Kenya.
“As we look to the future, our focus is increasingly shifting towards value addition. While we currently aggregate and market grain, our ambition is to move into processing and milling so that we can create more value for our farmers,” he added.
Opening the forum, Cleopas Ndorere, Commissioner for External Trade at Uganda’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, described grain as one of the most strategic commodities for regional development and food security.
“Grain remains fundamental to food security, nutrition, trade, and economic development. The major grain commodities traded between Uganda and Kenya include maize, beans, sorghum, rice, soybeans, and wheat, among others,” Ndorere said.
He noted that Uganda and Kenya have made progress in harmonising standards and reducing barriers to trade through the East African Community frameworks.
“If grain is certified in Uganda, it does not need to be re-certified in Kenya. This reduces costs and delays for traders and makes regional trade more efficient,” he said.
Ndorere also highlighted government efforts to modernise border management through digital systems and smart border infrastructure.
“We are moving towards Smart Gates, where traders will register their products electronically before arrival. By the time a truck reaches the border, all documentation will already be in the system, reducing delays and transaction costs,” he explained.
The Commissioner further urged grain traders and processors to invest in value addition rather than relying solely on commodity trading.
“Many of the products we currently import can be produced competitively within our region. Value addition creates jobs, increases incomes, and strengthens our industrial base. I encourage all of you to explore opportunities beyond primary commodity trading,” he said.
Ndorere linked the grain sector to Uganda’s broader economic transformation agenda, noting that agro-industrialisation is one of the key pillars under the government’s ATMS strategy—Agro-Industrialisation, Tourism Development, Mineral Development, and Science, Technology and Innovation.
“Uganda has set an ambitious target of growing the economy to US$500 billion, and agro-industrialisation will play a central role in achieving that vision. Grain trade, food processing, and agricultural value chains are critical to this journey,” he said.
The exchange programme will include visits to leading Ugandan grain processors, warehouse operators, cooperatives, and the EAGC Agribusiness Expo in Masindi District, where participants will interact with exhibitors showcasing innovations in seed systems, mechanisation, post-harvest handling, quality assurance, and agricultural technologies.