Gen Kale Kayihura opens up on struggles as farmer

“The problem is that we don’t have the credit market. The banks don’t have facilities for us,” he stated. “The money that they lend is for traders, not producers.”

Kayihura says banana farming, for instance, takes at least three years before the first harvest can be made, and even longer to break into the market due to existing commercial barriers.

“You cannot give me a loan and expect me to pay it in six months or a year when I am starting a banana plantation which takes three years to start producing bananas,” he remarked.

As a farmer who is doing value addition, Kayihura says the lack of financial backing is hindering his progress. He noted that government programs, such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), do not cater to farmers engaged in value addition.

“PDM is targeting the lowest peasants to try and bring them into the market economy… It is good that the government is taking a step to emancipate the poor and bring them into the money economy. But without us who are doing value addition, those programs will not achieve their objectives,” Kayihura lamented.

He was clear that his request is not for handouts from the government but for patient capital, which would allow farmers to secure loans at reasonable interest rates with sufficient time for repayment.

“We are not asking for grants from the government. We are simply asking for patient capital to give us enough time and at a reasonable interest rate,” Kayihura explained.

Gen Kale Kayihura is no stranger to tough situations, having served in key roles in Uganda’s security apparatus. Born in Kisoro District, southwestern Uganda, in 1955, Kayihura rose through the ranks of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) before taking on the role of Inspector General of Police (IGP) in 2005. His military career included stints as a political commissar and command positions in various regions of Uganda.

During his tenure as IGP, Kayihura was known for his strong stance on law enforcement, often attracting both praise and criticism for the methods used under his leadership. He played a central role in curbing opposition protests and maintaining national security during politically tense periods. However, his tenure was not without controversy, and he was accused of militarizing the police and being overly aggressive toward political opponents.

In 2018, Kayihura’s career took an unexpected turn when he was fired as IGP by President Yoweri Museveni in what many viewed as an unceremonious dismissal. His firing followed accusations of human rights abuses and claims of failing to curb a series of murders and kidnappings that had gripped the nation at the time. After his dismissal, Kayihura was arrested and charged with offenses, including aiding the kidnapping of Rwandan refugees and illegal repatriation, charges that shook his previously solid reputation.

Following his exit from public service, Kayihura retreated from the limelight and focused on farming, hoping to channel his energy into a new life as a large-scale farmer. However, as his remarks suggest, farming has not been an easy path, and he now faces the challenge of financing long-term agricultural projects without sufficient backing from the financial sector.