Cabinet has approved the Food and Agriculture Regulatory Authority Bill, 2026, paving the way for the creation of a single regulator to oversee food safety, agricultural inputs and veterinary products.
The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting held at State House Entebbe on Monday, July 6, and announced during the weekly Cabinet briefing at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday.
Cabinet also approved the appointment of a new Governing Board for the National Building Review Board.
Speaking at the briefing, Minister for ICT and National Guidance Justine Kasule Lumumba said the proposed legislation seeks to harmonise the regulation of food and agricultural products by establishing a unified regulatory framework.
The new law will replace the current fragmented system in which regulatory responsibilities are shared between the National Drug Authority (NDA) and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
Once established, the Food and Agriculture Regulatory Authority will oversee veterinary medicines, veterinary devices, vaccines, veterinary cosmetics, laboratory supplies and reagents, agricultural chemicals, food products and animal feeds under one institution.
According to the government, the existing regulatory framework has created overlapping mandates, duplication of roles and gaps in the supervision of agricultural and veterinary products.
The proposed authority is expected to improve coordination among regulators, strengthen enforcement mechanisms and enhance the efficiency of protecting public health and agricultural production.
By Olivia Nabaggala
7th July 2026
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