Government Moves To Consolidate Agrochemical Regulation Under FARA Bill

Kampala, August 26, 2026 - The government moved to overhaul agrochemical regulation through the proposed FARA Bill, aiming to reduce institutional fragmentation and strengthen oversight of chemicals affecting Uganda's food chain.

Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze told Parliament that the legislation is intended to streamline regulatory authority, close enforcement gaps and protect public health. The proposal would strip the National Drug Authority and Uganda National Bureau of Standards of parts of their agrochemical mandate.

Officials and sector groups have warned that weak monitoring and fragmented inspection systems have allowed hazardous substances to enter agricultural supply chains. Data presented in the debate linked contaminated fresh produce to more than 60 percent of foodborne illness cases, with chemical contamination described as a wider public-health and market-access concern.

The bill could reshape compliance obligations for agrochemical importers, distributors, farmers and food exporters, with implications for agricultural productivity, consumer safety and Uganda's access to higher-value food markets.