FORT Project Strengthens Cooperative Business Linkages in Northern Uganda

Gulu and Lira, Northern Uganda | 13–14 July 2026

The Farmers' Organisations for Rural Transformation (FORT) Project has taken another significant step towards strengthening farmer-owned enterprises by facilitating strategic business linkages between cooperatives and key service providers across Northern Uganda.

From 13–14 July 2026, the Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA), in partnership with Agriterra and with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Wageningen University & Research, convened a regional business linkage forum that brought together farmer cooperatives, financial institutions, input suppliers, processors, off-takers, development partners and other key actors within the agricultural value chain.

The engagement focused on cooperatives operating in the maize, oilseed, cassava and honey value chains, providing a platform for them to establish partnerships that will enhance access to reliable markets, affordable financial services, quality agricultural inputs, technical support and other business development services essential for sustainable growth.

The initiative forms part of the FORT Project's broader objective of transforming farmer organisations into resilient, market-oriented and professionally managed enterprises capable of creating wealth for their members while contributing to Uganda's agricultural transformation agenda.

Speaking during the engagement, the General Secretary of the Uganda Cooperative Alliance, Mr. Ivan Asiimwe, challenged cooperative leaders to move beyond routine operations and deliberately position their organisations as competitive business enterprises.

"Opportunities do not wait for those who are asleep. Cooperatives must remain awake, proactive and ready to seize every opportunity that comes their way. The business environment is constantly changing, and only organisations that innovate, build partnerships and make timely decisions will remain competitive."

Mr. Asiimwe emphasised that cooperative leaders should not wait for development partners or government to solve every challenge facing their organisations. Instead, they should continuously seek partnerships, improve governance, strengthen member participation and embrace innovation as the foundation for long-term sustainability.

He further noted that business linkage forums provide an important opportunity for cooperatives to expand their networks and access services that would otherwise be difficult to obtain individually.

"The cooperative model gives farmers collective strength. When cooperatives build strategic partnerships with financial institutions, buyers, processors and technical service providers, they become stronger businesses that are able to create lasting value for their members. We must therefore remain alert, prepared and intentional in pursuing these opportunities."

Throughout the two-day engagement, participating cooperatives held business-to-business discussions with potential partners, explored financing opportunities, negotiated market arrangements and shared experiences on strengthening value chains. The interactions created a platform for practical collaboration aimed at improving production, value addition, aggregation, market competitiveness and income generation for cooperative members.

Participants also appreciated the opportunity to directly engage with institutions offering financial products, agricultural technologies and market solutions tailored to the needs of farmer organisations. Many described the forum as a timely intervention that bridges the gap between producers and the wider agricultural ecosystem, enabling cooperatives to build stronger commercial relationships and improve their competitiveness.

The business linkage initiative reaffirmed the importance of partnerships in strengthening Uganda's cooperative movement. By connecting farmer organisations with critical business services, the FORT Project continues to support the development of resilient cooperatives that are better equipped to respond to market demands, improve livelihoods and contribute to inclusive rural economic transformation.

As implementation of the FORT Project continues across its target districts, UCA and its partners remain committed to empowering farmer organisations with the knowledge, networks and business opportunities they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive agricultural sector.