Uganda’s leading agricultural innovators were recognised at the Best Farmers Awards 2025, as dfcu Bank reaffirmed its long term commitment to transforming the country’s agriculture sector through finance, capacity building and strategic partnerships.
Speaking at the awards ceremony in Kampala, dfcu Bank Chief Retail Banking Officer and Head of Agriculture Annette Kiconco said the bank’s 11 year partnership with the initiative reflected a deliberate investment in strengthening Uganda’s agricultural value chain.
“Agriculture is one of our priority sectors, and our partnership with the Best Farmers initiative is intentional,” Kiconco said. “For us, it’s about empowering farmers with finance, knowledge and opportunities so they can build sustainable agri businesses.”
Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, engaging more than 60 percent of households, employing about 70 percent of the labour force, and contributing roughly 24 percent of gross domestic product and 42 percent of export earnings, driven largely by coffee, according to national data cited at the event.
Kiconco said dfcu’s involvement, in partnership with Vision Group and other stakeholders, was aimed at building resilience and leadership within farming communities while promoting agriculture as a viable business.
She also pointed to the role of the dfcu Foundation, formerly the Agriculture Development Foundation under ADC, in building farmer capacity through training and mentorship, enabling agri led enterprises to improve governance, adopt modern practices and become bankable.
Highlighting a previous success story, Kiconco cited Elgon Cooperative Union in Bududa, whose founder Godfrey Buaya returned from a Netherlands study tour with a renewed perspective that led to improved governance, modern processing investments and wider community transformation.
“This is the true power of the Best Farmers initiative, knowledge that transforms not just farms, but entire communities,” she said.
Kiconco added that dfcu’s presence in 56 districts, including areas such as Abim and Dokolo where it is the only bank, underscores its commitment to expanding financial access in rural and agrarian regions.
She also praised the complementary roles of the initiative’s partners. “KLM will open markets, dfcu will finance, New Vision will tell your story, and Khoudjis will provide quality feed. This partnership is intentional and designed to uplift farmers across Uganda,” she said.
This year’s Overall Winner, Hood Kiwana Kasirye from Mityana district, received the UGX 50 million grand prize for excellence in integrated farming across his 25 acre enterprise, which includes dairy farming, poultry layers, goats, horticulture and mechanisation.
Guest of Honour and former Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda emphasised the importance of value addition in unlocking Uganda’s agricultural potential.
“Value addition is critical,” Rugunda said. “Uganda must feed itself, feed the region, and ultimately feed the world.”
Vision Group Chief Executive Officer Don Vincent Wanyama reaffirmed the media house’s commitment to agriculture and acknowledged the support of partners including dfcu Bank, KLM, Khoudjis and the Embassy of the Netherlands.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. Through this initiative, we aim to inspire farmers, strengthen cooperatives and uplift the country,” Wanyama said.
The 2025 Best Farmers competition ran from March to November, culminating in the awards ceremony that celebrated innovation, resilience and excellence across Uganda’s farming sector.
