By Our Reporter
The Ag-BDS Ecosystem Enhancement Project (ABEEP), a transformative initiative to strengthen Uganda’s agricultural sector, has launched a training programme for Agricultural Business Development Service (Ag-BDS) providers.
Spearheaded by a consortium comprising the African Management Institute (AMI), the Agribusiness Market Ecosystem Alliance (AMEA), and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), with funding from AGRA, the programme aims to empower Ag-BDS providers to enhance the growth, resilience, and competitiveness of Agri-SMEs across Uganda.
The launch event, held on Friday 20th June, 2025 – Kampala, Uganda at Hotel Africana, Kampala, featured representatives from the funders AGRA Uganda, partners in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
The ABEEP Project is designed to address critical gaps in Uganda’s agricultural ecosystem by improving the quality and accessibility of Ag-BDS support for Agri-MSMEs. With agriculture employing over 70% of Uganda’s workforce and contributing 24% to GDP (UBOS, 2024), Agri-MSMEs are vital for economic growth but face challenges such as limited access to finance, markets, and technical expertise.
David Wozemba, AGRA Country Director, Uganda, emphasized the project’s transformative potential: “We are not the ones to transform the food systems- we are catalytic. Real transformation happens when every actor in the ecosystem understands their role, aligns their value, and brings solutions that respond to what is truly broken.”
ABEEP’s goal is to foster sustainable agribusiness development through enhanced BDS delivery, aligning with Uganda’s National Development Plan III and IV. The projects main objectives include enhancing the capacity of Ag-BDS providers to deliver high-quality, market-driven services tailored to Agri-MSMEs, strengthening Agri-MSME resilience and competitiveness by improving access to finance, market linkages, and technology, fostering inclusive growth by supporting women, youth, and rural-based Agri-SMEs in key value chains and building a robust Ag-BDS ecosystem through supporting the enactment of structures for improved BDS in Uganda, such as the National BDS Standards.
Alvin Katto, AMI Uganda Country Manager, highlighted the training’s innovative approach: “AMI’s blended learning model combines practical tools with hands-on support, enabling Ag-BDS providers to deliver impactful services that drive Agri-MSME growth and resilience. Over the course of the next four months, 60 Ag-BDS providers will receive intensive training aligned with how they can position their clients better for growth, whether through accessing more markets for their goods, being ready to access finance and investment and embracing digitalization for improved productivity. We will also train the Ag-BDS providers on the national BDS standards, which are soon being gazetted ”
Harrison Kaziro, Regional Network Facilitator (Uganda), AMEA, underscored the collaborative effort: “If we are serious about transforming MSMEs and agri-businesses, we must stop recycling short-term projects and start investing in strong, professional systems that outlive donor funding. The current landscape is broken- fragmented, underfunded, and disconnected. AMEA is here to change that. Through collaboration, certification, and a redefined business development support ecosystem, we can finally create a future where SMEs thrive, jobs are created, and economies grow sustainably. This is not just a project. It’s a movement for lasting impact.”
Ronald Kyagulanyi, Coordinator Economic & Research Analyst- Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), stressed private sector alignment: “These new standards are not just about compliance- they are about transforming mindsets. As business service providers, we must first see ourselves as entrepreneurs. That means building our internal leadership, enhancing our capacity, and delivering services that are impactful, inclusive, and accessible. Only then can we truly drive growth for the agribusinesses we serve and unlock the private sector’s full potential in Uganda.”
The launch featured a keynote address by Johnson Abitekaniza, Assistant Commissioner, Training & Business Development at the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Cooperatives who noted that, “Business Development Services must move beyond motivational talk. We need practical, context-driven support that improves enterprise productivity, performance, and sustainability.”
He emphasized the urgent need for BDS standardization, certification, stronger coordination, and local relevance, warning against the dangers of ‘one-size-fits-all’ approaches and “high-speed consultancy” detached from community realities.
“It’s time to professionalize BDS, build credible provider networks, and ensure that services offered translate into actual business growth, not just workshops and plans on paper,” remarked Abitekaniza.
The training programme has been made possible by a consortium made up of the African Management Institute (AMI), which is a Pan-African leader in business training, delivering practical learning for SMEs, the Agribusiness Market Ecosystem Alliance (AMEA), which is a global network promoting professional farmer organizations and BDS, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), Uganda’s apex body for private sector advocacy and business development as well as AGRA which is a catalyst for Africa’s agricultural transformation, supporting inclusive food systems.
The training and support to Ag-BDS providers has come at a perfect time when the Ugandan budget for FY 2025/26 allocated significant resources to agriculture, particularly for agro-industrialization and related initiatives to achieve the agricultural sector growth target of 8%.