TotalEnergies EP Uganda (TEP Uganda) has hosted its inaugural Tilenga Project Agribusiness Forum under the theme “Empowering Farmers and Enabling Linkages: An Agriculture Value Chain Networking Forum.”
Held at the Buliisa District Headquarters, the forum brought together more than 200 farmer groups with the goal of bridging critical knowledge gaps, promoting an entrepreneurial mindset, and fostering sustainable linkages across Uganda’s agricultural value chain.
The forum was designed as a direct response to stakeholder calls for enhanced information sharing and improved market access building on company's ongoing community-centered initiatives, including the Livelihood Restoration Programme and Community Agriculture Initiatives which have so far supported over 10,000 households in Buliisa, Hoima, Nwoya, Pakwach, and Kikuube districts with improved agricultural inputs, technical training, and access to markets.
Speaking at the event, Philippe Groueix, General Manager of TotalEnergies EP Uganda, said the agribusiness forum reflects the company’s strong commitment to sustainable development and community empowerment.
“By supporting direct linkages between farmers and key actors in the agribusiness value chain, we are not only enhancing agricultural productivity but also cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets, driving economic growth, and fostering resilience in the Tilenga project area,” Groueix said.
“This initiative is more than just farming; it’s about creating a sustainable ecosystem where local communities can thrive, innovate, and take the lead in agricultural excellence across our host communities.”
The forum was organized in collaboration with the East African Grain Council (EAGC), Community Integrated Development Initiative (CIDI), Living Earth Uganda (LEU), and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU).
Benjamin Aijuka, the Programs Manager at EAGC Uganda, noted that strengthening quality standards at the production level is essential for enabling regional trade and ensuring long-term farmer prosperity.
“At EAGC, we work closely with farmers to build their capacity to meet these standards and connect them with structured markets. Platforms like this forum are critical because they bring value chain actors together, foster transparency, and accelerate the transition from subsistence farming to commercially viable agribusiness,” Aijuka said.
The forum also attracted a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives of Tilenga Project Affected Households (PAHs), Project Affected Communities (PACs), farmer groups, produce buyers, processors, aggregators, financial institutions, and government officials.
TotalEnergies EP Uganda has been implementing its Livelihood Restoration Programmes since 2022 to mitigate the effects of economic displacement related to project land acquisition.
In 2024, the company launched its Community Agriculture Initiatives program, aimed at improving agricultural production, enhancing food security, and boosting household incomes within the Tilenga project area.
