agriculture 20 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda's Vegetable Oil Production Falls Short, Imports Surge
Uganda faces a significant deficit in vegetable oil production, requiring substantial imports to meet domestic demand. Despite ongoing agricultural projects, output lags behind consumption, highlighting the need for enhanced support and local production. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uganda-s-oilseed-ambitions-stalled-by-370-000-tonne-shortfall-5466482
Uganda is struggling to achieve self-sufficiency in vegetable oil, with a substantial shortfall of nearly 370,000 metric tonnes necessitating costly imports. The National Oil Seeds Project (NOSP), a seven-year initiative launched in 2021, aims to boost the production of sunflower, sesame, groundnuts, and soybeans but is yet to meet its targets.
According to Mr. Emmanuel Moses Tukei, a project agronomist with NOSP, Uganda’s annual demand for vegetable oil stands at 450,000 metric tonnes. However, domestic production currently yields only 80,000 metric tonnes, with oil palm contributing 40,000 tonnes. This leaves a significant gap filled by imports, costing the country approximately $300 million annually.
Despite a processing capacity of 112 mills with 85% potential, the operational rate is only 48.8%, indicating a considerable underutilization of resources. Local governments have emphasized the need for stronger agricultural extension services to support farmers effectively. While some districts like Oyam have reported progress in mobilizing farmers and establishing demonstration plots, seed availability remains a major hurdle.
Hindrances include reliance on imported seeds, with last year’s shortage of a particular hybrid sunflower seed from South Africa severely impacting farmers. Adverse weather conditions, such as flooding and drought, further exacerbate yield issues. Officials stress the importance of boosting local seed production, investing in climate-resilient farming, and implementing adaptive strategies to overcome these challenges.
With the NOSP project deadline in 2028, the coming years are crucial for Uganda to close the production gap, satisfy internal demand, and explore potential export markets. The project is supported by research from the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and academic scholarships from Makerere University.