Northern Uganda launches maize producers, traders bylaw to boost quality and market access

UGANDA – Northern Uganda, the districts of Amuru and Gulu have officially launched a maize producers and traders bylaw in a landmark effort to strengthen the maize value chain.

This initiative aims to enhance the quality, safety, and competitiveness of maize production, a staple crop critical to the region’s food security and economic development.

The bylaw was developed under the project “Strengthening the Maize Value Chain Compliance and Competitiveness,” a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) and TradeMark Africa (TMA), with financial and technical support from the UK government.

At the launch event held at Acholi Inn in Gulu, Herbert Kafeero, Programs and Communications Manager at SEATINI, emphasized that the bylaw is designed to regulate all actors in the maize value chain, including farmers, produce dealers, and millers, to ensure adherence to production and handling standards.

The framework aims to promote sustainable agricultural practices, reduce post-harvest losses, and elevate the sector’s competitiveness both locally and internationally.

A notable provision of the bylaw mandates the branding and packaging of maize, recognizing the export potential of maize produced in Amuru and Gulu districts. This move is expected to open doors to regional markets, including South Sudan, which has previously rejected Ugandan maize shipments due to aflatoxin contamination.

To ensure the bylaw’s accessibility and long-term impact, Kafeero pledged that it will be translated into local languages and that comprehensive training will be provided to all value chain actors before the bylaw is rolled out to other local governments in the region.

“The true impact of the by-law will be measured by how effectively we implement it,” Kafeero noted.

Praxeda Ndagire, the project focal person at TradeMark Africa, expressed optimism that the bylaw will significantly improve the quality and safety of maize produced in the two districts.

She highlighted past challenges where Ugandan maize was rejected at border points due to aflatoxin contamination, stressing that better handling and compliance with standards can unlock more lucrative markets for local farmers.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), maize is a critical crop for Uganda, providing income, food security, nutrition, and poverty alleviation for over 70% of the population. However, the sector’s potential remains underexploited due to quality issues, non-compliance with standards, aflatoxin contamination, and limited market competitiveness.

A baseline survey conducted by SEATINI in March 2025 across Gulu, Amuru, and Elegu revealed that 93% of maize value chain actors had not received formal training on production, harvesting, or post-harvest handling standards.

Furthermore, 70% of farmers were unaware of the market benefits of adhering to these standards, such as accessing better markets and earning higher prices.

Auric Oryem, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Gulu district, called on local leaders and farmers to embrace the bylaw to facilitate its scaling across the entire district.

Local farmers welcomed the initiative with optimism. John Okello, a farmer from Amuru, pointed out that inadequate storage facilities often lead to significant post-harvest losses and aflatoxin contamination, especially when rains damage stored maize.

“Sometimes, rain affects our produce, making it hard to take to the market. We hope this project will help address such issues,” Okello said.

Sign up to HERE receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.