JINJA – The 32nd National Agriculture Show has officially closed at the Jinja Show Grounds, ending 5 days of exhibitions, trade deals, and new farming technologies that drew thousands of farmers, exhibitors and government officials from across Uganda and the East African region.”commitment to sustainable agriculture and innovation”
Officials said this year’s show was one of the biggest yet, with over 400 exhibitors showcasing innovations in crop production, best livestock demostration, agro-processing, irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, and farm machinery.
From smallholder farmers in Busoga to large agribusinesses and international companies from Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda, the Jinja grounds turned into a hub of knowledge sharing and business.
“We came to learn about drought-resistant maize and we are leaving with new contracts,” said recheal lumpe a farmer from Bugiri District. “This show helps us see what works and who can supply it.”
Closing the event on Sunday, State Minister for Agriculture Hon. Desire muhooza, who represented the Minister of Agriculture, commended farmers for embracing value addition and technology.
“The future of Uganda’s agriculture is commercial, mechanized, and export-oriented,” she said. “Government will continue supporting farmers with extension services, affordable inputs, and better market access so that agriculture stops being a way of life and becomes a business, she encouraged farmers to practice the knowledge and skills attained.”
She also urged farmers to take advantage of government programmes like the Parish Development Model and Uganda Development Bank loans to scale up production.
A key highlight this year was the innovation in Agribusiness Pavilion, where young innovators displayed apps for market linkage, solar-powered irrigation kits, and packaged foods made from local produce.
UNFFE Chairperson Dr. Stephen Biribonwa said the show’s goal was to change mindsets.
“We want young people to see farming as profitable. We want women to own the value chain, from the garden to the supermarket shelf,” he said.
The Uganda prison merged at the best overall winners of the 32nd national agriculture show 2026 in Jinja city taking home awards for best livestock demonstration institution, Best innovative institution and best farmer field school
Trade Deals and Next Steps
Organizers estimate that exhibitors signed trade deals and MOUs worth over UGX 12 billion during the show. Banks and microfinance institutions on site also approved hundreds of loan applications for farmers seeking to buy machinery and inputs.
The Jinja Resident District Commissioner praised security agencies and vendors for keeping the show peaceful and orderly despite the large crowds.
With the Jinja show now closed, attention shifts to regional agriculture shows that will be held in Gulu, Mbale and Mbarara later this year as part of the Ministry’s drive to take services closer to farmers.
As tractors rolled out and tents came down on sunday evening, farmers left Jinja with new seeds, new contacts, and new ideas.
For many, the National Agriculture Show was not just an exhibition — it was a marketplace, a classroom, and a reminder that agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy.
