The President of China Agricultural University (CAU) H.E SUN Qixin who also doubles as Deputy Leader of the National People’s Congress of China is scheduled to arrive in Uganda on 23rd November 2023 for a 2 days official visit on the invitation of the BCD.
During the visit, BCD and CAU will sign a 5-year agricultural promotion cooperation agreement that will result in the establishment of 2 (two) Agricultural model villages for intercropping of maize & soya beans as well as cassava and beans in Busoga. Other cooperation areas will include student exchange, join research, especially on modern agricultural practices and technologies, and joint hosting of conferences, seminars and workshops, among others. The ceremony is scheduled for Friday 24th November 2023 at the Office of the President at 9:30 am and will be broadcast live on Baba TV and all the BCD social media accounts.
The Cooperation Agreement is expected to facilitate the takeoff of implementing Pillar 1 (one) of the 10-year Busoga Development Agenda (BDA) that seeks to promote commercial-cooperative-based farming. According to the BDA, agricultural transformation is expected to be realized in Busoga through revitalizing farm production and productivity, value addition, market information flow and significant public-private sector partnerships.
The BCD and China Agricultural University have enjoyed cordial relations for a while including the recent hosting and extending of training to some of the Local Government leaders of Busoga who visited China in August this year. These included Mr. Wakaze Simon Governor BCD and District Chairman Luuka, His Worship Kasolo Peter Okotcha Mayor Jinja City, Mr. Sanya Ronald District Chairman Namayingo and Mr. Muziransa Shafi District Chairperson Bugweri. These and others from across 20 countries of the world visited the University for benchmarking, training and sharing of experiences on poverty alleviation for developing countries.
The Cooperation will therefore give opportunity to several leaders and farmers of Busoga to learn and draw experiences needed to transform the agricultural sector of Busoga. The cooperation is equally designed to complement the Parish Development Model (PDM) by creating a framework for rural agricultural capacity building and transformation in modern agricultural practices.
The signing ceremony is hosted by the 3rd Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda in her capacity as Chairperson BCD Ministerial Coordination Committee the Rt. Hon Rukia Isanga Nakadama will be graced by several Regional, National and Diplomatic stakeholders including; the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Hon Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister Rt. Hon Justine Kasule Lumumba, the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda H.E Zhang Lizhong, the UN-FAO Country Representative to Uganda H.E Antonio Querido, the Minister of State for Housing Hon Princess Persis Namuganza, the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister Busoga Kingdom Owek. Osman Noor Muhammad, the Team Leader of the China-Uganda South to South Cooperation Project phase III Mr. Zhang Xiaoqiang, the Governor of the BCD Mr. Wakaze Simon who also doubles as LCV District Chairman Luuka, among others.
On Saturday 25th November 2023, H.E Sun Qixin is expected to visit Jinja to appreciate the Tourism potentials of the sub-region. He will equally visit at least one local farmer around Jinja before setting off to Entebbe Airport for departure at 17:30 pm.