Uganda Secures $100 Million for Oil Palm Expansion as Minister Kasajja Meets IFAD President in Rome

ROME, ITALY – Uganda’s Minister of Finance, Matia Kasajja, has held high-level talks with the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Alvaro Lario, in Rome, solidifying a major funding agreement for the expansion of the country’s oil palm project.

During the meeting, Minister Kasajja expressed the government’s profound gratitude for IFAD’s longstanding support, specifically highlighting the recent approval of USD 100 million to finance the expansion of the National Oil Palm Project into new districts in the Busoga sub-region of Eastern Uganda. The financing was greenlit by the IFAD Executive Board in December 2025.

The discussions underscored a robust and enduring partnership between Uganda and IFAD, which has spanned over four decades. Since 1981, the two entities have collaborated on 19 projects, with total IFAD financing reaching USD 659.3 million. These initiatives are primarily focused on increasing the incomes of rural households living in poverty, improving food security, and reducing the vulnerability of communities across the country.

Currently, the partnership is guided by the 2021–2027 Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) . This framework, jointly formulated by the Government of Uganda and IFAD, is fully aligned with Uganda’s National Development Plans, IFAD’s corporate priorities, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

The Minister and President Lario reviewed the portfolio of ongoing public sector projects, which include:

· National Oilseeds Project (NOSP): Running from 2019 to 2028, this project is supported by USD 99.56 million from IFAD.
· National Oil Palm Project (NOPP): Active from 2018 to 2029, with USD 77 million in IFAD financing.
· Resilient Livestock Value Chain Project (ReLIV): A newly initiated project spanning 2024 to 2033, backed by USD 99.57 million from IFAD.

In his remarks, IFAD President Alvaro Lario reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s rural development agenda. He urged the implementing agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), to fast-track the implementation of the ongoing projects to ensure timely delivery of benefits to the intended communities.

The meeting in Rome marks a continued effort by the Ugandan government to secure and strengthen international partnerships aimed at transforming its agricultural sector and boosting rural livelihoods.