China and Uganda are deepening their anti-poverty cooperation in Busuga, one of the poorest areas in Uganda, through a new agricultural led rural transformation initiative. The "Rural Agriculture Model" (VAM) program was launched by Uganda's Vice President Jessica Alubo in 2023, with partners including China Agricultural University, the Office of the Vice President of Uganda, and the local government of Busuga, and implemented by the Busuga Development Alliance (BCD). BCD Executive Director Anthony Mulla stated, "We plan to establish 12 demonstration villages in each local government jurisdiction to promote comprehensive transformation through agriculture." This project, which draws on China's rural poverty alleviation strategy, aims to help local communities overcome poverty by 2030. Anthony Mulla, Executive Director of the Busuga Development Alliance (BCD), stated on April 17, 2025, "We plan to achieve an ambitious goal - to completely transform the Busuga region by 2030, just as China has done before." The project chose soybeans as a pilot crop due to their market potential and suitability for deep processing. In Masayiga village (Mayug district), 100 farmers are planting soybeans, with an expected yield of 700 to 900 kilograms per acre. Mura explained, 'If farmers harvest 900 kilograms per acre, their income can reach 2.7 million shillings.' Currently, the project is being implemented simultaneously in Namayungbe Village (Namayongo District) and Busana Village (Kamuli District). Each demonstration village will construct processing facilities to ensure the value-added of agricultural products from the source. Anthony Mulla, Executive Director of the Busuga Development Alliance (BCD), said, "We are working with China to plan the construction of a soybean processing plant in each demonstration village to enhance the added value of agricultural products." He pointed out that the long-term goal of the project is to reduce local dependence on primary sugar production. For many years, the Busuga region has only sold primary sugar products, missing out on the value-added benefits of processing, "Mura added. Chinese Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Fan Xuecheng, emphasized China's firm support for Africa's development: "The Chinese President has announced a policy of duty-free import of agricultural products from Uganda, including agricultural products from 32 other African countries." Tibegandka highly praised the positive impact of the "Rural Agriculture Model" (VAM) on local communities: "This project brings hope to our people, and we are full of expectations for economic growth and poverty reduction prospects." According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics' 2024 data, the impoverished population in the Busuga region accounts for 14% of the country, with over 1.16 million people living below the poverty line.
