brian gitta

Yesterday, I had the privilege of engaging with stakeholders from government, development organizations, the private sector, academia, and farming communities during the Agriculture Growth and Innovation for Livelihood Enchancement Studies Dissemination Workshop. What stood out most was the shared recognition that transforming livelihoods requires more than increasing production it requires strengthening the market systems and value chains that connect people to opportunities. The evidence presented was compelling: while approximately 80% of respondents participate in horticulture, most remain concentrated in production, with limited access to higher-value functions such as aggregation, trading, logistics, and processing. This highlights an important development challenge and opportunity for all of us working to create inclusive economic growth. At @thinkitlimited, we believe that sustainable change happens when evidence informs action. By strengthening market systems, improving coordination, and creating pathways for women, youth, refugees, and host communities to participate meaningfully in value chains, we can unlock greater productivity, better jobs, and more resilient livelihoods. I am encouraged by the rich discussions, diverse perspectives, and collective commitment demonstrated throughout the day. The future of Uganda's agricultural transformation lies not only in what we produce, but in how we organize markets, create value, and ensure that growth is inclusive. Thank you to all our partners, stakeholders, and participants for contributing to this important conversation. Now, the focus shifts from evidence to implementation.

With experience comes wisdom, structure, and business insight. But it can also come with bias the kind that limits innovation and dismisses ideas that don’t fit existing patterns. Sometimes the next breakthrough looks unfamiliar at first.

Pleased to have hosted stakeholders yesterday for the workshop on the Digitisation of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (FFVs) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Control Processes – Phase 2 project. The engagement brought together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, CAB International (CABI), private sector actors, and other key stakeholders within Uganda’s horticulture value chain to align on the next phase of implementation and the project’s strategic direction. At thinkIT, we are proud to serve as the technical partner supporting the modernisation of Uganda’s Crop Inspection and Certification System (CICS) to strengthen transparency, efficiency, accountability, and traceability in horticulture trade. The discussions focused on governance structures, system enhancements, approval and tracking mechanisms, AI-driven risk profiling, field engagement and farmer validation processes, as well as capacity-building plans to ensure sustainability and long-term system ownership. Digital transformation continues to be a key driver in improving trade systems and unlocking opportunities for Uganda’s agricultural sector. Through collaboration and innovation, initiatives such as this are helping position Uganda’s horticulture industry for greater competitiveness in regional and international markets.