Uganda is setting a bold pace in tackling food loss with a new climate change initiative. The Scaling Solutions for Food Loss Reduction in Africa (RE-GAIN) program, led by AGRA and the Government of Uganda, is rolling out first in the country’s eastern region.
Launched through the Ministry of Finance, RE-GAIN aims to benefit over 400,000 smallholder farmers in Uganda alone. Nationwide, the project targets 2.6 million farmers across Africa. Uganda’s share of the funding totals USD 14 million, focusing initially on Busoga, Bugisu, and Sebei sub-regions.
According to David Wozemba, AGRA’s Country Director for Uganda, Eastern Uganda was chosen because of its strategic position.
“This area borders Kenya and South Sudan, and grain trade across these borders faces major losses,” Wozemba said on Friday. “Our studies show alarming levels of post-harvest loss. By targeting this trade corridor first, we strengthen regional trade and help farmers recover value that was slipping away.”
Running from February 2025 through February 2030, RE-GAIN is designed to address food loss with practical, affordable technologies. Solar dryers, hermetic storage solutions, and better post-harvest handling practices form the core of the strategy.
Farmers will also benefit from improved climate data systems, better access to climate finance, and streamlined policy frameworks aimed at creating a supportive environment.
For years, poor storage, handling, and unpredictable weather have eroded farmers’ profits. Wozemba emphasized that the program’s approach is private sector-driven, intending to scale technologies rapidly and make them accessible to farmers, traders, and processors.
“We are providing real-world solutions for real-world challenges. Farmers lose at every stage—harvest, storage, transportation. This initiative brings technologies that actually work, straight to the grassroots,” Wozemba explained.
Dennis Mugagga, from the Ministry of Finance’s climate financing unit, added that the program will not just curb climate change but also boost incomes.
“Our strategies are green by design. They are built to protect the environment and empower farmers economically,” Mugagga said.
As Uganda races to meet its climate goals, programs like RE-GAIN represent a crucial step forward—grounded in practical action, not empty promises.
With Eastern Uganda leading the way, the program’s success could reshape agricultural resilience across the entire country.
