Ugandan farmers are crying out in frustration as cheap and bigger tomatoes from Kenya, along with onions from Tanzania, flood markets across the country.
The local produce is being pushed aside, and traders say customers now prefer the imported goods because they are cheaper, bigger, and better looking.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has remained silent, offering no support or explanation as local farmers watch their businesses collapse.
A market survey conducted in major markets in Kampala and other market stalls in the suburbs like Ntinda, Kyaliwajjala, and Kira, reveals a drastic change in consumer preferences.
Restaurants, eateries, and households now favor Kenyan produce for its size, freshness, and affordability. One Kenyan tomato — priced at just 100–300 shillings — is reportedly equivalent in flavor and cooking value to five Ugandan tomatoes, which retail at 1,000 shillings for two.
In contrast, Ugandan tomatoes are dismissed as small, dry, and overly acidic, making them less desirable for commercial and domestic use.
Similarly, Tanzanian onions, known for their aroma and juiciness, have overtaken Uganda’s own in terms of popularity and price, with traders openly rejecting local stock.
This sharp consumer shift has triggered a collapse in demand for Ugandan produce, forcing many farmers to sell at losses or leave their harvests to rot in the fields. The influx has also destabilized domestic pricing structures, pushing traders to rely increasingly on foreign supply chains.
Experts and stakeholders now warn that this unregulated import trend poses a national threat to economic stability and food security.
If Ugandan farmers continue to be priced out of their own markets, the country risks; Mass agricultural unemployment, Increased rural poverty and migration, Erosion of food sovereignty and rise in youth discontent and instability in farming regions.
“This is no longer just a trade imbalance, It’s a slow bleed that could destabilize rural economies and worsen unemployment, especially among the youth who had begun investing in agriculture,” said an observer.
Silence
Despite the crisis unfolding, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has maintained a worrying silence.
Charlotte Kemigisha, the ministry’s spokesperson, was unavailable for comment as her known phone number couldn’t be reached.
When reached for input, Fred Mayanja, an official in the crop sub-sector, distanced himself from the issue, claiming:
“That’s not my docket. Please contact Dr. Yona Baguma.”
Yona Baguma, Director of Research at MAAIF and the person reportedly responsible for policy analysis and product development, was unreachable by phone at the time of filing this report.
Analysts argue that MAAIF should immediately commission research into consumer behavior and regional market dynamics.
The ministry is also being called upon to develop high-yield, market-competitive crop varieties and provide urgent support to local farmers to withstand regional competition.
In the markets, the atmosphere is one of frustration and despair.
“We can’t compete with Kenya and Tanzania when our own government is silent,” said a tomato farmer from Wakiso. “All we ask is support — better seeds, irrigation, and fair market protection.”
As Uganda’s agricultural backbone bends under pressure from imports, the silence from MAAIF is growing louder. And for many farmers, that silence sounds a lot like betrayal.
