The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (MAAIF), David Kasura Kyomukama, has revealed plans to establish a new food regulatory agency to oversee the quality of food in Uganda.
Kasura made the remarks while appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on 24th February 2026, to respond to queries raised in the December 2025 Auditor General’s report.
“We are setting up the Food and Agricultural Regulatory Authority, which is going to help on issues of quality,” Kyomukama said.
His remarks were in response to concerns raised by Ignatius Mudimi (Elgon County) who decried the shortage of extension workers in the coffee sector, following the disbandment of Uganda Coffee Development Authority.
He said the gap left has seen some unscrupulous farmers in Bugisu region begin mixing coffee with some beans that resemble coffee locally known as (kamwanyi), which is compromising the quality of coffee.
The revelation of a new agency being formed, shortly after Government disbanded several agencies in the agriculture sector in the name of rationalisation attracted questions from MPs like Gorrethe Namugga, Vice Chairperson PAC who questioned the rationale behind forming new agencies yet there are some agencies being disbanded.
“Something new from you that has rationalised, you are very busy cooking and to bring other things on board, our prayer is that it works better. The Food and Agriculture Regulatory Authority, our prayer is that this performs different from how others were doing business. But it’s also disappointing that as we look forward to have a skewed government that you can afford to, you know, utilise, you are also concentrating on bringing up other issues new on board,” Namugga said.
In January 2026, Bright Rwamirama, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture requested Parliament for additional UGX213Bn for the revival of Seed Company to improve access to quality seeds, and establishment of a Food and Agriculture Authority at UGX163Bn to reduce on food contamination along the agricultural chain.
“Establish the food and agricultural regulatory authority to ensure safe and high quality of food products, reducing contamination risk in the food chain. This will support the ministry’s food safety objectives and compliance with international standards, improving export and competitiveness. This method costs about UGX50Bn,” noted Rwamirama.
The Minister also defended the need for Government to revive the defunct Seed Company arguing that such a move will help reduce counterfeit inputs on the market.
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