The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, on Thursday morning presided over the official groundbreaking ceremony for a new research and management complex at the National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) in Kikyusa, Mukono District.
During the ceremony, Tumwebaze officially handed over the construction site to the National Enterprises Corporation (NEC), the commercial arm of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), which will undertake the construction works.
Speaking at the event, Tumwebaze reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening Uganda’s agricultural research system, noting that investment in physical and technological infrastructure is essential to enabling local scientists to develop innovative solutions to the everyday challenges faced by farmers.
“The quality and quantity of our agricultural yields can only be as good as the seed—both plant and livestock—we produce and use,” Tumwebaze said.
“Bad seed or poor breeds lead to low or failed productivity, while good, resilient seed increases productivity and sustains the farming ecosystem. This is why research is critical,” he added.
The minister commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his longstanding guidance and emphasis on prioritising scientific research and innovation in government planning and budgeting.
Addressing scientists from the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and NaCORI, Tumwebaze urged researchers to prioritise practical, results-oriented studies that deliver tangible benefits to communities.
He challenged them to focus on applied research that directly improves livelihoods, boosts agricultural productivity and strengthens farmers’ resilience to climate change and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
“I again challenge our scientists to always prioritise applied and impactful research—research that will directly improve and transform people’s livelihoods and build resilience in farming in the face of climate change and harsh weather conditions,” Tumwebaze said.
The new facility is expected to strengthen NaCORI’s research and operational capacity, enhance Uganda’s agricultural research infrastructure and support national efforts to improve coffee production, promote sustainable food security and drive economic growth.
The investment also underscores the importance of science-driven agricultural development in equipping farmers with improved planting materials, innovative farming practices and solutions to emerging production challenges.