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Mr. Mabirizi said many Ugandan farmers remain trapped in poverty because they do not fully benefit from their produce
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By Bruno Mugizi
Bushenyi
As the 2026 presidential race gains momentum, Conservative Party flag bearer Elton Joseph Mabirizi has pledged to transform Uganda’s agricultural sector by establishing small-scale factories in rural areas to add value to farmers’ produce and create employment opportunities.
Speaking during his campaign rally in Ishaka–Bushenyi Municipality on Wednesday, Mr. Mabirizi said many Ugandan farmers remain trapped in poverty because they do not fully benefit from their produce.
“We are going to make sure that we empower agriculture because agricultural mechanization and empowerment are very important,” he said. “When we empower agriculture, we can become the food basket for East, Central, and the whole of Africa. To achieve this, we must buy agricultural equipment and give it to farmers free of charge because without food, we can’t live.”
Mr. Mabirizi said his government would prioritize setting up small-scale industries in rural trading centers to add value to local produce and provide nearby markets for farmers.
“We shall ensure that there are small industries in trading centers so that when someone harvests coffee, maize, or onions, there is a nearby facility to process or package their products before taking them to larger markets that offer better prices,” he explained.
Citing an example of pineapple farmers, Mr. Mabirizi emphasized the need for fruit-processing plants to help farmers make juice from surplus produce rather than selling it cheaply or letting it go to waste.
“We shall introduce small-scale industries that can help farmers make juice and export it to boost their incomes,” he said.
The Conservative Party candidate also vowed to introduce a federal system of government, arguing that it would curb corruption and enhance service delivery by giving regional governments power to manage their own resources.
“If we had a federal system, regional governments would handle their own affairs transparently. Federalism brings back power and resources to the people. Taxes collected in a region would be used there to benefit taxpayers,” he noted.
Mr. Mabirizi said through federalism, money currently lost to corruption would instead fund real development, including better schools, improved road networks, and well-equipped hospitals.
He further pledged to cut government expenditure by reducing the number of ministers, presidential advisors, and Members of Parliament, channeling the savings into improving essential services.
“When we reduce the number of ministers to about 17 and cut down on the number of MPs, we shall save money to empower service delivery,” he said. “We shall use those resources to support teachers and medics by offering free education and better working conditions.”
Bushenyi District, where Mr. Mabirizi made the remarks, continues to grapple with several development challenges, including poor road infrastructure such as the Ishaka–Mbarara road, declining coffee and tea prices, limited market access, and inadequate health facilities.
Torch Media Africa
