Uganda To Construct Rice Research Centre

The government of Uganda has received a $6m (about sh12b) grant from Japan in order to construct a rice research center at the Namulonge Crops Research Institute in Wakiso district.

The research institute is likely to focus on New Rice for Africa, a high-yielding, early-maturing species promoted by Japan. The agreement was inked by Uganda's Finance minister Syda Bbumba and the Japan International Cooperation Agency representative, Seki Tetsuo.

Japan ambassador Kato Keiichi said three experts from his country had been training farmers. "The (research) project will re-enforce this facility in terms of its capacity, technology and human resource," he explained.