The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and Trade for Jobs Uganda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen Uganda’s dairy sector by accelerating agricultural technology adoption, expanding market opportunities and supporting the creation of more and better jobs.
Signed at NARO’s National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI) at Nakyesasa, in Wakiso district, the agreement seeks to bridge the gap between agricultural research and commercialisation, ensuring that innovations reach the farmers and businesses that need them to improve productivity, competitiveness and incomes.
The partnership comes at a time when Uganda’s dairy industry is expanding as an important source of income, trade and employment. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), national milk production rose from 2.7 billion litres in 2020 to 5.4 billion litres in 2024, while the value of milk and milk product exports increased from $264.5 million in 2023 to $285.4 million in 2024.
Despite this growth, ensuring that agricultural technologies are accessible, commercially viable and widely adopted remains critical to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
“Uganda has invested significantly in agricultural research and technology development. The opportunity now is to ensure that technologies generated through research reach farmers, businesses and other actors who can use them to improve productivity and incomes,” said the NARO Director General, Dr. Yona Baguma.
“We must now move from being catalytic to being truly impactful. Uganda’s dairy subsector is transforming rapidly and presents tremendous opportunities for individuals and enterprises to secure sustainable livelihoods. This partnership is therefore a testimony to our shared vision of creating jobs and expanding economic opportunities for Ugandans.” Dr. Baguma added.
He said NARO has developed several technologies that have the potential to transform Uganda’s dairy and livestock subsectors. Among these is the NARO anti-tick vaccine, which is already rolled out and is expected to generate additional employment opportunities along the livestock value chain.
Under the MoU, NARO and Trade for Jobs Uganda will collaborate to promote the development, transfer, adoption and commercialisation of dairy-related agricultural technologies and innovations. The partnership will strengthen connections between research institutions and key market actors, including dairy processors, cooperatives, milk collection centres and agro-dealers.
A central focus will be the design, testing and scaling of commercially viable models that enable private-sector actors to facilitate technology adoption. The collaboration will also strengthen data and knowledge systems, support stakeholder engagement and joint learning, and build NARO’s capacity to deliver sustainable, market-oriented technology transfer.
For NARO, the partnership presents an opportunity to translate research into practical solutions that respond to market needs. The organisation will provide technical expertise, identify technologies with potential for wider adoption, facilitate access to research and technical information, and coordinate commercialisation strategies in line with its policy frameworks.
Trade for Jobs Uganda will provide technical assistance to support the design, testing and scaling of interventions that promote technology transfer and adoption, subject to applicable rules and the availability of resources. It will also support NARO in strengthening market-oriented approaches to technology transfer through public and commercial channels.
The partnership builds on findings from Trade for Jobs Uganda’s sector selection study, which identified dairy and tourism as two high-potential sectors for expanding trade and improving employment outcomes. The project works to address underlying market constraints and create more and better jobs, particularly for women, young people and people living in poverty.
“This partnership brings together two complementary strengths: NARO’s expertise in agricultural research and technology development and Trade for Jobs Uganda’s expertise in decent work, market systems and inclusive economic growth. Together, we can help ensure that innovations do not remain in laboratories and research stations, but are translated into productive enterprises, stronger markets and better livelihoods,” said Fernando Martinez Cure, Chief Technical Advisor, Trade for Jobs Uganda.
By connecting agricultural research with the needs of farmers, enterprises and markets, the collaboration aims to establish sustainable pathways for technology adoption, strengthen private-sector participation and enable more dairy enterprises to benefit from innovation.
The MoU also provides for periodic review meetings to assess implementation progress, address emerging challenges and identify opportunities to strengthen the collaboration.
Ultimately, the partnership is expected to contribute to Uganda’s broader ambitions of increasing agricultural productivity, promoting value addition, strengthening agro-industrialisation and expanding employment opportunities across the dairy value chain.
About the National Agricultural Research Organisation
The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) is Uganda’s agency responsible for coordinating, overseeing and undertaking agricultural research. NARO develops and promotes technologies and innovations aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, improving livelihoods and contributing to national economic transformation.
About Trade for Jobs Uganda
Trade for Jobs Uganda is a joint initiative of the International Labour Organization and the International Trade Centre designed to address market constraints by positioning trade as a driver of decent job creation and income generation in Uganda’s Dairy and Tourism sectors. By strengthening the performance of the dairy and tourism sectors, the project aims to unlock opportunities for MSMEs, expand market access, and create more and better jobs.