Alice
The government of Uganda has come to the rescue of the country’s tea sector with a massive injection of 310 billion shillings. The funds, directed by President Yoweri Museveni, will be allocated to tea factories, fertilizer subsidies for growers, and settling arrears for seedling suppliers.
While speaking during the Uganda Tea Association with the strategic partners meeting at Mountains of the Moon hotel in Fort Portal today, the state Minister for Agriculture Animal, industry and fisheries Fred Bwino Kyakulaga said that specifically, 152 billion shillings will go to tea factories, 46 billion shillings as fertilizer subsidies, and 112 billion shillings to clear debts owed to seedling suppliers
He called upon the tea farmers also play their part of minding about producing quality
Kaziro Kyambadde the head of corporate and business banking Diamond Trust Bank said as the financing partner of Uganda Tea Association said that they believe they can unlock the potentials in the Tea sector by supporting on the value chain
However, Victoria Ashabahebwa the chairperson board Uganda Tea Association said that they are drafting a 5 year developmental plan that is meant to focus on the key areas that are vital for the tea trade especially the value chain
She said that they are also looking at market access, improving on the quality among others
She reported to the invited guests that in the last year 2025 the tea price improved to over 20%, the absorption of their tea to Mombasa is still very strong regardless quantities not improving for the last 2 years
However, Ashabahebwa implored the government to speed up the process saying that the factories closed while others like Igara, Buhweju struggling