KAMPALA, Uganda — Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo has received the credentials of Ezana Getahun Kassa, the newly appointed representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization to Uganda.
During the ceremony on Thursday, Odongo emphasized the critical role of agriculture as the foundation of the country’s economy and the livelihoods of its people. He told the incoming envoy that while Uganda is pursuing modernization, it remains committed to protecting indigenous knowledge and traditional practices.
Uganda seeks to improve productivity while safeguarding what is uniquely ours, Odongo said.
The minister highlighted the growing threat of climate change, pointing to shifting weather patterns as a challenge to food security. He called for a balanced approach to biotechnology and genetically modified organisms, noting that while technology offers solutions, it must be adapted to the local socio-economic and cultural context.
Odongo described Uganda’s equatorial climate as a strategic asset for year-round production, but warned that climate variability requires a coordinated, cross-sectoral response to build resilience.
Kassa reaffirmed the FAO’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s development priorities and described the nation as a strategic partner for food security in the region. He requested government facilitation to engage with ministries beyond agriculture, arguing that food systems impact several sectors of governance.
Odongo welcomed the proposal for wider collaboration, provided it is conducted through established diplomatic channels.
The meeting concluded with both officials pledging to strengthen technical partnerships and advance sustainable agricultural development to benefit the Ugandan population.
