Farmers in Kween District have lauded Uganda Breweries for providing a reliable market for barley, significantly boosting their household incomes.
During an interaction with Uganda Breweries officials on Friday, Patrick Mangusho, a barley farmer from Kaplamai in Tuikat Sub-County, highlighted how barley farming has transformed his life. “Barley farming has had a great impact on me as a person. I used the income from barley to complete my university education in 2017. I have also been able to support fellow farmers financially during crop-growing crises,” he said.
Mangusho further explained how barley farming enabled him to diversify his business ventures. “I buy barley and other crops from fellow farmers to expand my business. Currently, I purchase onions and Irish potatoes to sell in Northern Uganda. The income has allowed me to expand my farmland, build a house, and support my family. I am married and have two children,” he added.
Difas Kiplangati, another farmer from Kere Village, shared a similar success story. “Barley has helped us immensely. I previously struggled to afford school fees for my children, but since I began supplying barley to Uganda Breweries, I can now send them to the best schools in Kapchorwa and cater to their needs,” he said.
Kiplangati revealed that he earns approximately UGX 4 million to 5 million per season, translating to about UGX 10 million annually. However, he mentioned challenges such as pests, diseases, and poor road infrastructure. “I appeal to our leaders to address the road conditions in our area,” he urged.
Addressing the farmers, Andrew Kilonzo, the Managing Director of Uganda Breweries, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to fostering community connections. “We collaborate with farmers to produce raw materials, which are then industrialized into certified products approved by regulators. After marketing the products, we return to the farmers for more input,” he explained.
Kilonzo noted that Uganda Breweries sources 95% of its raw materials locally and emphasized the potential for further growth if challenges related to illicit alcohol are addressed. “Currently, 65% of alcohol consumed in Uganda is informal or illicit. If regulators enforced the sale and distribution of only certified alcoholic products, we could easily triple the volumes of raw materials sourced, creating a massive positive impact for farmers. There is an opportunity to combat the harmful effects of illicit alcohol, which is being commercialized,” he stated.
Under the “Farm for Success” program, Uganda Breweries provides a ready market for over 35,000 farmers. In the last financial year, the company paid over UGX 38 billion to smallholder farmers nationwide, including UGX 13 billion for barley, with the rest going to sorghum and maize farmers.
The program also delivers broader socio-economic benefits, such as women’s empowerment, opening up rural communities, and fostering forward and backward linkages in the agricultural value chain. These linkages include input sales, transportation, and microfinance services, among others.
