Hon. Frank Tumwebaze has on Tuesday assumed office as Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries following a handover in Entebbe by outgoing minister Hon. Vincent Ssempijja.
Hon. Tumwebaze, t has promised to apply a proactive approach through directly engaging farmers on ministry policies. He said this on June 22 after taking office at the ministry headquarters in Entebbe.
“In this term, we will spend more time with the farmers in the fields than in conferences,” he said.
The handover ceremony, whose attendance was limited due to the Covid-19 protocols, was presided over by Mr. Pius Wakabi Kasajja, the ministry Permanent Secretary, in the presence of other senior ministry officials. Hon. Tumwebaze officially received the ministry instruments of power and authority that include the ministerial policy statement, the agricultural zoning policy and the agricultural business enterprise handbook, among other statutory documents.
In his remarks, Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempiija, the outgoing minister, informed Hon. Tumwebaze that the agricultural sector recorded significant growth over the last five years despite the recent challenges such as the invasion of desert locusts in January, 2020, which were followed by the Covid-19 pandemic that slowed down the whole economy that resulted into wasted produce of bananas, eggs, milk and most recently market entry issues for our maize products.
“I wish to congratulate Hon. Frank Tumwebaze upon having been appointed and welcome him to the Ministry which has also has a highly competent and hardworking technical team,’’ said Bamulangaki Ssempijja who has been moved to head the Defence docket.
New Fisheries Minister Hellen Adoa promised to enforce registration of all fishermen in Uganda in next six months alongside better tracking both aquarium and lakes, vowing to focus on value addition for fish feeds to reduce on fish feed imports.
Lt. Col (Rtd) Bright Rwamirama, Minister of State for Animal Industry and Kigulu County North MP Fred Bwino Kyakulaga (State Agriculture) also assumed office today.
“I want to thank God for being reappointed in cabinet and I want to thank President Museveni for surprising me with this appointment but nonetheless I am returning home,” Hon. Tumwebaze said.
“I want to let you know that we shall count on your support. The technical people will give us the knowledge but policymaking is our function we the leadership and we shall really depend on the knowledge you Ministry staff have to move the sector forward.”
“I am here to listen and learn. I do not impose views but I propose, that is why we were able to move in other sectors,” Hon. Tumwebaze assured MAIAF top leadership, arguing them to serve the people.
The Permanent Secretary, briefed the incoming Minister that the Agro-Industrialization Program, in which the Ministry of Agriculture plays a lead role, has the following key objectives; Increasing agricultural production and productivity of priority commodities to promote agro-industry; Improving post-harvest handling and storage of priority commodities, agro-processing and value addition of priority commodities; Increasing market access and competitiveness of agricultural products in domestic and international markets; Increasing the mobilisation, equitable access and utilization of agricultural finance and strengthening institutional coordination for improved service delivery.
“In order to commercialize agriculture, MAAIF under NDPIII, will focus on two main issues of making the agribusinesses more profitable and attractive for investment. These are; de-risking Agriculture enterprises at all levels and supporting the creation of adequate markets for various priority enterprises,” Mr. Kasajja said
Hon. Frank Tumwebaze in his inaugural remarks applauded the previous leadership and the technical teams for the food security witnessed across the country of over 80% and encouraged them to work with the primary stakeholders, the farmers. The Hon. Minister outlined the following priority areas in response to a public outcry and these included; animal and crop disease management, mechanization, efficient public private sector partnerships, evidence-based decision making, quality seed and indigenous seed conservation, government farm land use strategies and extensive farmer engagement.
“Having previously been the President of the Uganda National Farmers Federation, I am only coming back home. I am a straightforward person. And where I may not know I am a very fast learner and believe that together, we will align our sector to farmer needs and concerns and ultimately attain our socio-economic growth,” said Hon. Tumwebaze Hon. Tumwebaze concluded by pledging his commitment to deliver a cohesive leadership and a well-coordinated sector through listening, learning and providing able leadership as government goes into the implementation of the parish development model.
MAIAF’s priorities
After his vetting by Parliament, Hon. Tumwebaze promised to, among others, implement the National Resistance Movement (NRM) manifesto and push for economic growth and job creation.
Mr Tumwebaze also vowed to crackdown on illegal agriculture pesticides as a measure to ‘clean up’ the sector.
He pledged zero-tolerance to corruption, and vowed to help the 68 per cent of Ugandans still trapped in subsistence farming.
“We are going to fight corruption and crackdown on people who flood the market with fake agro-products so that Ugandans can reap what is worth their efforts in this sector,” Mr Tumwebaze said.
“We will discourage land fragmentation and assist people in subsistence farming to join money economy. We are going to work with other stakeholders to help farmers get markets,” he added.
“Agriculture is a universal sector that employs many people both directly and indirectly. If you look at Uganda, it has a land size of 241,000Sq miles, of that land area, 81.8% is arable land meaning it can be cultivated. Out of the arable land, only 35% is utilized. So my big task is to whip the country and mobilize people to put land to use,” said Tumwebaze.
He also says that he is to ensure that disease control is a priority that needs to be fought holistically.
Who is Hon. Tumwebaze
Tumwebaze is the current member of Parliament representing Kibale county in Kamwenge district.
He is a former Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development and served as Minister of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) and Minister for Presidency and Kampala Affairs.
Tumwebaze attended Jinja College for his A-level and joined Mbarara University of Science and Technology where he attained a Bachelor of Science in Education.
He also holds Masters in International and Diplomatic Studies and Masters in Public Health from Makerere University.
