agriculture 21 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Tumwebaze Urges RDCs to Push Extension Workers to Reach Farmers Directly
Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze has instructed Resident District Commissioners and Chief Administrative Officers to ensure extension workers provide direct services to farmers amid complaints of their absence. This directive came during the handover of vehicles and motorcycles under the Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Project in Kampala. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/whip-extension-workers-to-directly-reach-farmers-rdcs-told-5431524
Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze called on Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) to actively supervise extension workers and make sure they deliver services straight to farmers.
Speaking at a Kampala event on Tuesday, Tumwebaze highlighted the need to shift Uganda’s subsistence farming towards commercial, tech-savvy practices. He specifically told leaders to ‘whip’ sub-county extension staff into action, noting frequent farmer complaints to the President about their invisibility.
Extension workers should guide farmers on modern techniques, pest management, post-harvest care, and market links, but their rural presence has been lacking.
Tumwebaze also advised using local radio airtime for agricultural tips instead of just politics.
The occasion marked the distribution of 69 vehicles and 1,034 motorcycles to 69 districts under the $354 million Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation Project, aiming to benefit 3.9 million people, including in refugee areas. MAAIF Permanent Secretary Maj Gen David Kasura Kyomukama shared these details.
Vice President Jessica Alupo, who led the handover, stressed accountable use of the equipment and faster project rollout to support farmers without excuses.
Source: Daily Monitor