Uganda strengthens smart agriculture through AI driven partnership

Uganda is placing agriculture at the centre of its digital transformation through a new partnership designed to modernise farming and improve rural livelihoods.

The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance has joined forces with the United Nations Health Industry Foundation and the Prince Kimbugwe Foundation to promote smart agriculture powered by artificial intelligence.

The agreement focuses on bringing practical solutions to farmers by combining technology with everyday agricultural practices. Through this collaboration, AI laboratories will be set up, research projects will be carried out and training programmes will be introduced to equip young people and agricultural professionals with modern skills.

Permanent Secretary Dr Amina Zawedde linked the initiative directly to Uganda’s economic future and the role agriculture will play in it. “This MOU falls in line with our vision of a USD 500 billion economy by 2040. Our people will gain new skills and have opportunities to visit China on exchange programmes to learn about smart agriculture and replicate those practices here,” Dr Zawedde said.

A major goal of the partnership is to transform agribusiness by improving productivity and efficiency. Farmers are expected to benefit from better farming methods, stronger systems and access to digital tools that can guide decision making and increase yields.

Chunxiao Huang, Chairman of the UN Health Industry Foundation, pointed to the wider impact of integrating AI into agriculture. “This partnership will create more than 50,000 jobs in five years and enable Uganda to develop new smart cities,” Huang said.

At the community level, the focus remains on making technology accessible. Edward Kimbugwe, founder of the Prince Kimbugwe Foundation, explained how rural farmers will directly benefit. “Through this partnership, rural farmers will receive drones to monitor their farms and learn smart agriculture practices, helping them apply technology in their daily work,” Kimbugwe said.

The partnership also introduces exchange programmes that will allow Ugandan students and agricultural experts to learn from international best practices and adapt them locally.

With a strong emphasis on smart agriculture, the initiative is expected to boost productivity, strengthen food systems and create new opportunities for farmers across Uganda.