Speaking in the wake of the Uganda Economic Forum organised by Next Media Group, Dr. Katushabe, Chief Executive Officer of NBK Premier Solutions Ltd, said Uganda’s agriculture is evolving beyond traditional production into a new phase defined by processing, innovation, and market integration.
“Uganda is no longer just a country of farmers it’s a country of agripreneurs, processors, and value creators,” he said.
“We are witnessing a transformation from growing crops to building integrated systems that connect production, processing, and export markets.”
Dr. Katushabe urged local investors to reimagine their role in the sector by embracing value addition, formalisation, and collaboration. He emphasised that small-scale operations must give way to partnerships, cooperatives, and compliance-driven business models that strengthen competitiveness and market access.
“The biggest shift local investors must make is to stop operating in isolation,” he said. “Real growth will come from formalising, partnering, and building supply chain alliances that improve bargaining power and open new market opportunities.”
He identified lucrative prospects in coffee roasting, fruit concentrate production, grain milling, packaging, and other value-addition enterprises where Ugandans remain underrepresented.
“The wealth is no longer in the soil; it’s in what we do with what comes out of it,” he remarked. “It’s not easy work, but those who hold on and do the needful will see substantial growth.”
Dr. Katushabe stressed that technology, innovation, and data-driven agriculture are now essential for competitiveness. He highlighted the growing importance of precision farming, irrigation, mechanisation, and digital trade platforms as game-changers in agricultural transformation.
He also urged foreign investors to adopt a more collaborative and capacity-building approach, rather than exploitative investment models.
“Foreign investors should think partnership, not possession,” he said. “Those who come to transfer technology, build local capacity, and create shared value will achieve lasting success.”
Dr. Katushabe cited major opportunities in agro-processing, input manufacturing, cold-chain logistics, and export marketing, noting that Uganda’s strategic location within East Africa and youthful workforce give it a unique competitive edge.
“Uganda is uniquely positioned as a regional agricultural hub,” he said. “Investors who align their strategies with the country’s Vision 2040 will find themselves on the right side of history.”
While commending the government for its ongoing efforts to promote agro-industrialisation through industrial parks, tax incentives, and export promotion programmes, Dr. Katushabe called for greater policy harmonisation and infrastructure investment to sustain private-sector momentum.
“Government is doing a lot to build an enabling environment,” he said. “But policy consistency and infrastructure development remain critical if private investment is to thrive.”
For more than 15 years, NBK Premier Solutions Ltd has worked with agribusinesses and investors to design business models, feasibility studies, and market entry strategies across East Africa. Dr. Katushabe said the firm’s mission is to help investors de-risk and structure their ventures for long-term sustainability.
Looking ahead, Dr. Katushabe believes the next decade will define Uganda’s economic destiny — with agro-industrialisation at the core.
“This is the decade of green wealth creation,” he said. “Those who invest today in value chains, processing, and rural industrialisation will shape Uganda’s next industrial story.”
As Uganda’s policy reforms gather pace and private capital shows renewed interest, Dr. Katushabe’s message is clear: the seeds of opportunity are ripe and only those who act now will harvest the rewards of tomorrow.