Uganda is set to host a state-of-the-art organic fertilizer factory following the signing of an agreement between Itracom Fertilizers Uganda – SMC Ltd and the government. The deal, led by the company’s Director Adrian Ntigacika, is part of a presidential directive aimed at boosting agricultural productivity through sustainable practices.
The signing ceremony in Kampala was witnessed by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja and attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MOFPED), Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), and Ministry of Water and Environment (MOWE).
The factory will be built on 133 acres of land in Kampiringisa provided by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MOGLSD). With an investment of US$180 million, the project is expected to be completed within 18 months. Once operational, the facility will produce 250,000 metric tons of organic fertilizer annually, using cow dung and other minerals. An offtake agreement guarantees that the fertilizer will be purchased, provided it is manufactured in Uganda.
MAAIF Permanent Secretary Maj. Gen. David Kasura-Kyomukama outlined the sector’s priorities, stressing the need for improved soil fertility, irrigation, mechanization, quality seed and livestock genetics, and farmer sensitization. He said the factory responds directly to the “non-negotiable need for quality fertilizer inputs” to raise productivity.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni directed the establishment of the project, citing Itracom’s successful operations of similar plants in Burundi, with a capacity of 350,000 metric tons, and Tanzania, with 1 million metric tons. As part of implementation, MAAIF will draft a cabinet paper to formalize the initiative and mobilize farmers in the cattle corridor to supply cow dung, while MEMD will provide infrastructure support.
Ntigacika expressed gratitude for the government’s backing. “I sincerely thank the Government of Uganda, particularly Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Hon. Matiya Kasaija, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Maj. Gen. David Kasura-Kyomukama, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, and Rtd. Col. Fred Mwesigye, the Ambassador of Uganda to Tanzania, for their unwavering support. Today’s milestone is a testament to our shared commitment to advancing agriculture in Uganda,” he said.
Prime Minister Nabbanja credited President Museveni for spearheading the initiative and praised the collaboration among government institutions and regional partners.
“This partnership reflects a mutual interest in fostering sustainable agricultural growth, ensuring food security, and creating economic opportunities for Ugandan farmers. The Itracom Fertilizer factory is poised to become a cornerstone of Uganda’s agricultural transformation, delivering high-quality organic fertilizer to enhance soil fertility and support farmers nationwide,” Nabbanja said.
