Paul Mawanda Kyabaggu, the founder of Bukoola Chemical Industries, one of Uganda’s top agro-chemical companies, has died. He was said to be in his late 80s. Close family members say he had been ill for some time with high blood pressure, which led to his death earlier this week.
His passing marks the end of an era for a business that has supported farmers across the country for over 50 years.
Kyabaggu started Bukoola in 1973 as a small family business dealing in general goods. At the time, Uganda was facing tough economic times after political changes, and many small traders struggled to stay afloat.
Kyabaggu saw a gap in the market for farm supplies. He shifted the business to focus on agro-chemicals – things like fertilisers, pesticides and seeds that help crops grow better. The company first traded under a name linked to “The Associated”, before becoming Bukoola Chemical Industries.
Over the years, Kyabaggu turned Bukoola into a major player in the sector. By the 1980s and 1990s, as Uganda’s farming picked up with more stable times, Bukoola became a key importer and distributor of farm inputs. It supplied tools and chemicals to smallholder farmers in places like central and eastern Uganda, where coffee, maize and bananas are big crops. This helped boost yields and made farming more reliable for many households that depend on it for income.
Kyabaggu was known for his hands-on approach. He built strong ties with banks like I&M Bank Uganda, which provided him loans for growth. In 2022, Bukoola signed a deal with Equity Bank to make it easier for farmers to get credit for buying supplies. He also pushed hard against fake agro-chemicals, which can harm crops and soil.
In 2021, he joined forces with the Anti-Counterfeit Network (ACN) headed by lawyer Fred Muwema, to educate traders and farmers on spotting genuine products. “Buyers must be vigilant,” he once said at an industry meeting. These efforts protected farmers from losses and built trust in Bukoola’s brand.
By 2023, Bukoola marked 50 years in business. It had grown from a family shop to one of the largest agro-chemical firms in East Africa, with warehouses in Kampala and branches across Uganda. Kyabaggu, who held a doctorate and was seen as an industrialist, often credited his success to supporting rural communities.
“We provide the tools farmers need to thrive,” the company’s website states, a line that summed up his vision.
What happens to Bukoola now?
Kyabaggu’s death raises questions about the future of the company he built. Bukoola is now run by Dr Peter Kyabaggu, its managing director and a son. He had taken over day-to-day operations in recent years.
Under him, the firm launched a state-of-the-art cold room in June 2025 to store temperature-sensitive farm products better. It also keeps strong bank partnerships and focuses on expansion.
These signs suggest Bukoola is in good shape to carry on. Reports from the recent past show that family-run firms in Uganda like this often survive if successors are prepared, especially with a solid customer base among farmers.
But the news of Kyabaggu’s death is a reminder of risks for founder-led businesses in Uganda.
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Take MTK Uganda Ltd, a veterinary drugs company started by Dr Francis Xavier Kitaka in the 1970s. Kitaka, a trained vet, built MTK into a leader in animal health products, much like Kyabaggu did for crops. He died in September 2020 from Covid-19 complications, aged 85.
After Kitaka’s death, MTK hit hard times. The company already had big debts, including over Shs 19 billion owed to DFCU Bank for expansion. Court cases piled up, with banks seizing assets. Personal guarantees from Kitaka and family members added pressure.
By 2024, these charges had “crippled” MTK, forcing it to sell off parts of the business. What was once a powerhouse in animal medicines nearly collapsed without its charismatic leader to steer through the storms.
Bukoola’s story could go a different way. Unlike MTK, it has fewer public reports of debt troubles and recent investments show forward planning. Peter Kyabaggu’s role as MD means the handover started before Kyabaggu’s death. Still, the agro-chemical market is tough, with rising input costs and climate challenges hitting farmers.
If Bukoola keeps its focus on quality and farmer support, it can avoid MTK’s fate.
Arrangements for his funeral are yet to be announced.
