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 Grécia, EUAe Portugal.

Exports

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

Fastest export growth (2021–2022) was to DRC, Angolae Tanzânia.

Source: The Observatory of Economic Complexity

3. Agrochemical Registration in Uganda

Regulatory Authority

O 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
• Folha de dados de segurança do material (MSDS)
• 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

Notas principais

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