Busoga, Uganda — 11th July 2025
H.E Prof. Li Xiaoyun, head of the visiting Chinese delegation from China Agricultural University, has paid a courtesy visit to the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for East African Community Affairs and Patron BCD, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, as part of the delegation’s four-day working visit to Uganda.
During the meeting, Rt. Hon. Kadaga expressed deep appreciation for the longstanding cooperation between China and Uganda. She noted that the ongoing operationalization of the Village Agricultural Model (VAM) and Young Entrepreneurs Innitiatives was a fruit of the enjoyed cooperation between the two countries.
She commended the delegation for choosing Busoga as a model region for the initiatives, noting that the region’s youth and rural farmers are greatly benefiting from the skills and exposure being offered.
“This relationship started even before the COVID-19 pandemic, and I’m glad to see it bearing tangible fruits today,” Rt. Hon. Kadaga remarked. “We are especially grateful for your focus on empowering our youth and your contribution to the Parish Development Model (PDM) through the VAM initiative.”
The First Deputy Prime Minister further highlighted the region’s need for additional support in vocational training, pointing out that while Busoga already has some vocational hubs, they are not sufficient to meet the demand for skills development among the youth.
In response, H.E Prof. Li reiterated China’s commitment to the transformation of Uganda’s agriculture and youth employment through practical training and mentorship. He revealed that ten young entrepreneurs from Busoga had recently travelled to China for a mentorship program and more will be recruited in the coming months.
“We will take exemplary best farmers from every model village for further training and mentorship in morogolo, Tanzania, where they will be equipped with hands-on skills in soya milk production,” Professor Li noted.
“We shall begin with the Director General of the Busoga Consortium, Dr. Mula Anthony, as we prepare for wider youth and farmers recruitment.”
H.E. Prof. Li also outlined several ongoing projects under the VAM program and Young Rural Entrepreneurs projects in Busoga, including chili and soybean farming, all of which are intended to compliment Government efforts to addressing rural poverty in Uganda. “These projects are designed not only to boost food security but also to create employment and promote value addition in agriculture”, Prof. Li noted.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared vision of promoting Busoga as a national model for inclusive rural transformation through agriculture, youth skilling, and international cooperation