The Ugandan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) has launched a digital platform to enhance compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards. With an eye on markets such as the European Union, the system replaces the manual system for inspecting and certifying fruits and vegetables. According to Dr. Caroline Nankinga, Assistant Commissioner for Phytosanitary and Quarantine Inspection Services at MAAIF, this transition aims to reduce documentation errors. It will also enhance data storage, and improve export traceability.
Dr. Nankinga emphasized that the manual inspection system was prone to inefficiencies. This often resulted in errors that hindered compliance. The new tool will modernize the certification process, enabling reliable data access for regulators and exporters alike. She explained that the digital system ensures traceability by linking export batches to their points of origin. It makes it easier to address concerns such as pesticide residue or the presence of harmful organisms. This development is expected to open up greater opportunities for Ugandan farmers and exporters in global markets.
Fred Zake, Executive Director of Hortifresh Association Uganda Limited, highlighted the platform’s potential to reduce the time and costs associated with meeting regulatory requirements. He noted, “Digital tools like this help inspectors uphold the stringent standards required for Uganda to compete in high-value export markets.” The project received support from Swiss Contact and the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, focusing on strengthening Uganda’s position as a leading exporter of fresh produce.
Despite the progress, Zake pointed out challenges for small-scale producers and SMEs, including high costs for accreditation and insufficient access to cold storage facilities. To address these obstacles, he encouraged the creation of cooperatives to share costs and improve access to essential infrastructure. He also called on the government and development organizations to provide seed funding for training programs and infrastructure development, which are critical to increasing Uganda’s global competitiveness in the produce sector.
The new digital platform represents a significant step toward improving Uganda’s agricultural exports, offering a pathway for farmers and businesses to meet international standards in an efficient manner.
