dfcu Bank Deepens 11-Year Partnership to Transform Lives as Best Farmers Awards 2025 Celebrate Uganda’s Agricultural Champions As Uganda’s top farmers were honoured at the 2025 Best Farmers Awards in Kampala, dfcu Bank reaffirmed its 11-year partnership with Vision Group, positioning agriculture as the backbone of the economy and a key driver of national transformation. Through tailored financing, capacity building, market linkages, and storytelling, the bank continues to support farmers to move from subsistence to sustainable agribusiness. With a legacy dating back to 1964, dfcu’s commitment to agriculture is helping unlock value, strengthen rural communities, and advance Uganda’s regional competitiveness in food production.

Uganda’s agricultural sector once again took centre stage as the dfcu Bank–Vision Group Best Farmers Awards 2025 recognised outstanding farmers for innovation, resilience, and excellence across the value chain. This year’s event also marked 11 years of partnership between dfcu Bank and Vision Group, reinforcing a shared commitment to growing Uganda’s agribusiness potential.

Held at the Vision Group Head Office in Kampala, the ceremony brought together farmers, policymakers, private-sector leaders, and development partners, highlighting agriculture’s central role in the economy and future development.

The initiative continues to spotlight farming not only as a livelihood, but as a profitable business that can transform households, communities, and the nation.

Agriculture at the centre of Uganda’s growth story

Speaking at the event, Annette Kiconco, dfcu Bank’s Chief Retail Banking Officer and Head of Agriculture, reaffirmed the bank’s long-term investment in the sector.

“Agriculture is one of our priority sectors, and our partnership with the Best Farmers initiative is intentional,” Kiconco said. “For us, it’s about empowering farmers with finance, knowledge, and opportunities so they can build sustainable agribusinesses.”

She noted that agriculture remains Uganda’s economic backbone, engaging over 60% of households, employing about 70% of the labour force, contributing 24% to GDP, and accounting for 42% of export earnings, largely driven by coffee.

“These numbers are not just statistics,” Kiconco said. “They represent livelihoods, food security, and the engine that drives Uganda’s development.”

Now in its 11th year, the partnership has evolved into one of Uganda’s most impactful agricultural initiatives. Together with partners including KLM, Khoudijs, and the Embassy of the Netherlands, dfcu and Vision Group have helped build a support ecosystem that combines visibility, financing, market access, and capacity building.

“KLM will open markets, dfcu will finance, New Vision will tell your story, and Khoudijs will provide quality feed,” Kiconco said. “Together, we are uplifting farmers across Uganda.”

Building farmers into businesses

Central to dfcu’s approach is treating farming as a business. Through the dfcu Foundation (formerly the Agriculture Development Centre), the bank provides training, mentorship, and enterprise development support to agribusiness SMEs, helping farmers strengthen governance, improve financial management, increase productivity, and operate more sustainably.

Kiconco highlighted Elgon Cooperative Union in Bududa as a standout beneficiary. After a Netherlands study tour last year, the cooperative’s founder, Godfrey Buaya, returned with a renewed focus on governance, modern processing, and wider community transformation.

“This is the true power of the Best Farmers initiative,” she said. “Knowledge that transforms not just farms, but entire communities.”

With presence in 56 districts, dfcu Bank continues to extend financial access to rural and agrarian communities—sometimes as the only bank in districts such as Abim and Dokolo.

“This is not accidental,” Kiconco said. “It reflects our commitment to being present where farmers need us most.”

Through tailored agricultural financing and advisory support, farmers have been able to invest in mechanisation, value addition, and climate-smart agriculture, boosting productivity and resilience.

Celebrating excellence

The highlight of the evening was the crowning of Hood Kiwana Kasirye from Mityana as the Overall Winner of the Best Farmers Awards 2025.

His 25-acre integrated farm, combining dairy cows, layers, goats, horticulture, and mechanization, won the UGX 50 million grand prize for its innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.

Guest of Honour Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, former Prime Minister of Uganda, emphasised the importance of value addition in unlocking the sector’s full potential.

“Value addition is critical,” Dr. Rugunda said. “Uganda must feed itself, feed the region, and ultimately feed the world.”

Vision Group CEO Don Vincent Wanyama reaffirmed the media house’s longstanding dedication to agriculture and rural development, acknowledging the contribution of partners such as dfcu Bank.

“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy,” Wanyama said. “Through this initiative, we aim to inspire farmers, strengthen cooperatives, and uplift the country.”

Rooted in a legacy of transformation

As dfcu Bank marks more than 60 years in Uganda, its agricultural focus remains tied to its founding mission.

Established in 1964 with support from Rabobank and the Dutch Development Bank (FMO), dfcu has grown from a development finance institution into a leading commercial bank while maintaining its purpose of transforming lives and businesses.

“We may have Dutch roots, but we are truly Ugandan,” Kiconco said. “For over six decades, our purpose has been to transform lives and businesses.”

Running from March to November, the 2025 Best Farmers Awards culminated in a celebration of excellence, innovation, and possibility.

As Uganda’s farmers continue to adapt and scale, dfcu Bank’s renewed partnership signals a future where agriculture remains profitable, inclusive, and transformative.