Uganda is set to host Africa’s first Organic and Nature Expo (ONE) as the country seeks to capitalise on the growth of its organic agriculture sector, which has the continent’s largest area of certified organic farmland.
The four-day expo will take place from November 4 to 7, 2026, at Hotel Africana in Kampala, alongside the fifth National Organic Week (NOW).
The event is expected to attract more than 2,000 participants, including producers, processors, exporters, buyers, investors, financiers, policymakers and development partners from across Africa.
Organised by the National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), AfrONet and other partners, the expo comes as newly released statistics point to continued growth in Uganda’s organic agriculture sector.
The Uganda Organic Agriculture Sector Statistics 2021–2025, released during the launch of the expo and National Organic Week, indicate that Uganda had an estimated 744,288 certified organic farmers cultivating approximately 930,360 hectares of certified organic farmland by 2025.
The figures also place Uganda among the world’s top three countries by the number of certified organic farmers.
According to the report, the number of certified organic farmers in Uganda increased from 211,584 in 2018 to 744,288 in 2025, representing an average annual growth rate of 19.7 per cent.
Organic exports also increased, rising from an estimated $123.3 million in 2018 to $225.7 million in 2025. Ugandan organic products reach markets in the European Union, the United States, Japan and other regional destinations.
Chariton Namuwoza, Chief Executive Officer of NOGAMU, said the figures demonstrate the growing importance of organic agriculture to Uganda’s economy and international trade.
“These numbers confirm what the sector has long known: organic agriculture is one of Uganda’s strongest positions in global trade, and a genuine national asset,” Namuwoza said.
The statistics further show that the number of certified organic operators increased from 65 in 2018 to 439 in 2025, representing a 575 per cent increase over the period.
A mapping exercise identified 493 active organic sector actors across 58 districts, including farmer and producer groups, exporters, processors, cooperatives and agricultural input dealers.
Uganda’s organic product catalogue contains 95 distinct products and 403 variants across 11 categories, highlighting opportunities to expand value addition and access additional export markets.
The ONE Expo is expected to provide a platform for Ugandan and African organic businesses to connect with buyers, investors, financiers and policymakers while showcasing organic, agroecological and regenerative agriculture practices.
The programme will feature an Organic and Regenerative Agriculture Conference, structured business-to-business meetings, a regenerative coffee day, exhibitions and organised visits to farms, value-addition centres and processor-cooperative enterprises.
The organisers said discussions and exhibitions would also focus on soil health, agroforestry, organic inputs, certification, market access and the productive use of renewable energy.
The event will run under the theme “Competitive Partnerships: Organic and Regenerative Innovations: Africa’s Edge.”
NOGAMU said the expo aims to strengthen Uganda’s position in organic agriculture by linking environmental sustainability with enterprise development, trade, investment and policymaking.
The event is also expected to create opportunities for businesses to explore partnerships, identify new markets and improve their access to financing and technology.
Meanwhile, the newly released sector statistics are expected to provide an evidence base for policymakers as Uganda advances the development of its National Organic Agriculture Bill.
With its growing number of certified organic farmers, expanding export earnings and increasing range of organic products, Uganda is seeking to strengthen its competitiveness in international markets while creating more opportunities for producers and businesses across the agricultural value chain.
