Agriculture and Agrochemical Registration in Uganda

Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa, straddling the Equator and bordered by Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. Covering 242,000 km², including 200,000 km² of land and 42,000 km² of water and wetlands, Uganda is often referred to as the “Highland Waterland.” This article explores Uganda’s agricultural production, agrochemical import/export, and registration procedures.

1. Uganda’s Agricultural Production

Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, employing 78% of the workforce either directly or indirectly. About 41% of Uganda’s land is arable, and crop production accounts for over 60% of the agricultural output, contributing more than 20% of the GDP.

Uganda is divided into 135 districts and one capital city, with agricultural zones defined according to climate and soil:

Key export crops include Coffee, Cotton, Tea, Tobacco, Maize, and Sesame.

2. Agrochemical Import and Export

Imports

In 2022, Uganda imported $57.6 million in agrochemicals, ranking 91st globally. Top sources:

Fastest growing imports (2021–2022) came from Grèce, USAet Portugal.

Exports

Uganda exported $1.33 million in agrochemicals in 2022, ranking 95th globally. Main destinations:

Fastest export growth (2021–2022) was to DRC, Angolaet Tanzanie.

Source: The Observatory of Economic Complexity

3. Agrochemical Registration in Uganda

Regulatory Authority

Le Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) oversees agrochemical registration through its Crops Inspection and Certification Department, under legislation including:

• Agricultural Chemicals Control Act, 1989
• Agricultural Chemicals Control (Registration and Control) Regulations, 1993
• Agricultural Chemicals (Control) Act, 2007

Required Documents

Applicants must provide:

• Manufacturer authorization letter
• Proposed label
• Certificate of origin
• Chemical composition certificate
• Storage stability and shelf-life statement
• Fiche de données de sécurité (FDS)
• Toxicology and environmental impact data
• Analytical certificates and methods
• Manufacturing process
• Recommended Maximum Residue Levels (MRL)
• Physical and chemical properties of active ingredients and formulated products
• Expected pest control efficacy
• Packaging and waste management plan

Registration Validity & Renewal

• Certificates are valid 3 years
• Renewal fee: UGX 250,000, valid up to 2 additional years

Notes clés

Certificates cannot be transferred or sold

Non-residents must apply via a resident agent with technical expertise

Field and lab trials must cover 3 crop seasons or 6 months of animal testing across ecological zones

Pesticide registration should target specific pests across all host crops, unless crop-specific concerns exist