Uganda Parliament endorse loan to Improve livestock sector

In a bid to finance the Resilient Livestock Value Chain Project (RELIV), the Ugandan Parliament has approved the government’s request to secure a loan of up to $99.56 million (Shs 352 billion) from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The loan agreement was endorsed on Tuesday, 9 September, ahead of the 12 September deadline for signing the financing deal with IFAD.

The funding forms part of the broader RELIV project, which targets 51 districts within Uganda’s livestock sector. The project aims to enhance the incomes, nutrition, and resilience of smallholder livestock farmers while reducing poverty and vulnerability to climate shocks.

Livestock remains a major contributor to Uganda’s economy, accounting for up to 21% of agricultural value added and 4.3% of the national GDP.

The loan will also support research initiatives and partnerships with landowners to boost livestock productivity, strengthen resilience, and improve market access, all geared towards driving agricultural commercialisation and socio-economic transformation.