Uganda has been selected to host the 2025 Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) summit, following the outcomes of the 37th African Union Heads of State Assembly held this month in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The decision to hold the summit in Uganda marks a significant achievement for the country, as it underscores Uganda’s growing influence in agricultural development initiatives on the continent. The announcement was made by Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, who represented Uganda at the AU summit alongside Vice-President Jessica Alupo and a delegation from the foreign affairs ministry.
During the AU Heads of State Assembly, the leaders also endorsed the G25 Kampala Declaration on coffee, designating coffee as a strategic crop for the continent. This declaration reaffirms the importance of coffee production and trade in Africa’s agricultural sector, highlighting Uganda’s role as a key player in the coffee industry.
Tumwebaze expressed his gratitude for these victories, describing them as “great wins” for Uganda. He confirmed that the CAADP summit will take place in Kampala in January 2025, where discussions will focus on the post-Malabo CAADP framework. Uganda’s current chairmanship of the Special Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Water further emphasizes its commitment to advancing agricultural development agendas within the AU.
As a member of the East African Community (EAC), Uganda has embraced and domesticated the CAADP agenda, aligning with the goals set forth in the African Heads of State Malabo Declaration on Agriculture Growth and Transformation. These goals include poverty reduction, ending hunger, and increasing intra-African trade in agricultural goods by 2025.
Tumwebaze took to social media to commend Vice-President Alupo and the foreign affairs ministry team for their leadership and support in securing Uganda’s hosting rights for the CAADP summit.
The AU summit, held from January 15 to February 18, 2024, addressed various continental issues, including peace and security, development, AU reform, and Africa’s global presence. This year’s theme focused on building resilient education systems to ensure access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa, reflecting the continent’s commitment to advancing education and human capital development.
