The Akatare platform allows farmers to showcase commodities including matooke, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, yams, avocados, watermelons, and other agricultural products through verified digital profiles.
Ugandan musician-turned-entrepreneur RS Lawrence, popularly known as Resistance Lawrence, has launched Akatare, a digital agricultural marketplace designed to connect farmers directly with buyers and address long-standing challenges that have left many producers earning less than the true value of their harvests.
The platform, developed under Nengo Innovations Co. Ltd, seeks to transform agricultural trade by enabling farmers to create online storefronts, market their produce, and access buyers beyond their local communities. Its founder says the initiative is aimed at bringing transparency, standardized pricing, and broader market access to Uganda’s agricultural sector.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, employing millions of people and contributing significantly to national income. However, many farmers continue to face challenges in accessing profitable markets, often relying on middlemen who purchase produce in informal units such as sacks, heaps, or bundles before reselling it at higher prices using standardized measurements.
According to Lawrence, years spent sourcing produce from farming communities across Uganda exposed him to what he describes as a systemic imbalance within the agricultural value chain.
“Many farmers work tirelessly throughout the season yet earn far less than they deserve because of how agricultural products are traded,” Lawrence said. “If transactions were based on standard measurements and supported by a transparent marketplace, farmers would be much better positioned to earn fairly for their efforts.”
The Akatare platform allows farmers to showcase commodities including matooke, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, yams, avocados, watermelons, and other agricultural products through verified digital profiles. The verification process is intended to help buyers identify reliable suppliers while giving farmers greater visibility in competitive markets.
Beyond local trade, the platform is designed to facilitate access to regional and international buyers. Lawrence says a farmer in Kapchorwa, Mbarara, Kabale, or other agricultural regions can use the platform to market products to customers across East Africa and beyond without being limited to traditional trading networks.
Industry observers have increasingly highlighted digital platforms as an important tool for strengthening agricultural markets across Africa. While the continent possesses vast agricultural potential, many producers remain disconnected from lucrative markets due to inadequate trade infrastructure, limited market information, and logistical barriers.
Akatare’s launch comes at a time when African governments are promoting regional trade through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to increase intra-African commerce and create larger markets for goods and services.
Lawrence believes digital solutions will play a critical role in achieving those goals.
“Policies alone cannot move goods. Farmers need platforms that connect them directly to opportunities,” he said.
The entrepreneur is also calling for greater collaboration between government agencies, development partners, agribusiness companies, and investors to help scale the initiative. He argues that digital innovation must be complemented by investments in physical infrastructure, including storage facilities, transport networks, agricultural equipment, and rural internet connectivity.
“What we are building is not just a website. It is an ecosystem,” Lawrence said. “The digital side of agriculture can only be as strong as the physical infrastructure supporting the farmers who use it.”
Akatare has already begun onboarding farmers and traders, with its founders positioning the platform as a long-term solution for improving market efficiency, reducing information gaps, and increasing farmer incomes.
For Lawrence, the project represents more than a business venture. It is the culmination of years spent working alongside farming communities and witnessing the challenges they face.
“We have the farmers. We have the produce. The demand exists,” he said. “The challenge has always been creating a system that allows farmers to capture more value from their work.”
As digital technologies continue reshaping industries across Africa, initiatives such as Akatare may offer a glimpse into how technology can help bridge the gap between smallholder farmers and global markets.
Akatare is accessible online at www.akatare.com