How KAF MILLERS is turning crops into community wealth

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For the tenth year running, Vision Group, together with the Embassy of the Netherlands, KLM Airlines, dfcu Bank and Koudijs Animal Nutrition, is running the Best Farmers Competition. The 2025 competition runs from April to November, with the awards in December. Every week, Vision Group platforms will publish profi les of the farmers. Winners will walk away with sh150m and a fully paid-for trip to the Netherlands.

What began as a small farming initiative in northern Uganda has evolved into a thriving agro-processing enterprise, thanks to KAF Millers. Founded by retired civil engineer Martin Kakembo and now co-led by his daughter, Aisha Kakaire, the company is empowering smallholder farmers, uplifting women, and proving that innovation and community can go hand in hand.

A stroll along Lira Aloi Road in Lira City paints a vibrant picture: women vending cooking oil in brightly coloured containers.

Among them is Florence Acan, who says: “I source my oil from KAF Millers. They process oil from sunfl ower and soya beans. The company supports us by giving oil on credit, which we pay back after selling.”

KAF Millers is based in the Railway Quarters along Aloi Road. The company is the brainchild of Kakembo, formerly with the Ministry of Transport and Works in Jinja. Today, his daughter Kakaire serves as the managing director, leading the company into a new era of innovation and impact.

The birth of KAF Millers

KAF stands for Kakembo and Family, a name that reflects the company’s deep roots in both farming and processing, all based in Lira District. Kakembo’s journey into agriculture began with a critical realisation: Uganda’s demand for vegetable oil far outpaces its local production.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda consumes 480 million tonnes of vegetable oil annually, yet only 80,000 tonnes are produced locally. Sunflower emerged as a promising solution — it matures in just 90 days and requires minimal labour.

In 2008, Kakembo began growing sunflower in Jinja, but soon faced challenges due to limited technical knowledge and poor market access.

In 2017, he relocated to Lira, a region where sunflower is widely grown, making it easier to access best practices and an established market.

He leased 10 acres to expand his operations. However, another challenge arose: market saturation. Returns from sunflower farming were not matching his investment. To curb the losses, Kakembo turned to value addition.

In 2020, applying his engineering skills, he built his own oil processing machines. “Even when there is a breakdown, I repair it myself,” he says. This shift marked a turning point — allowing KAF Millers to process sunflower and soya beans into cooking oil and animal feed.

Growing the seeds of change

KAF Millers cultivates improved sunfl ower varieties like Pana, Sunfola and Hysun, which yield up to 750kg per acre — more than double that of local varieties. For soya beans, they grow Soy3N and Soy6N, yielding up to three tonnes per acre compared to just 700kg from traditional types.

The company follows two growing seasons: First season: March to June Second season: August to December (which typically yields better due to longer rains and improved drying conditions).

To optimize crop health and yield, the fields must be kept weed-free, ensuring plants don’t compete for nutrients. Sunflowers mature within 75–90 days. Timely harvesting is critical — as the heads droop, mature seeds begin to fall.

“If you do not harvest on time, you lose grain,” Kakaire explains. “It is important to track planting dates closely to plan for harvesting.”

Once harvested, the sunflower heads are taken to a drying area that must be clean to prevent contamination.

“We use clean tarpaulins to dry the grain, ensuring it is safe for human consumption,” she adds.

KAF Millers also keeps meticulous records to ensure crops are harvested at peak time, minimizing losses and maximizing output.

Value addition: turning grain into gold

Before Kakembo ventured into oil processing, he sold sunflower grain at between sh1,000 and sh1,200 per kg — a modest return, considering that one litre of sunflower oil derived from that grain retails for approximately sh6,500.

To boost returns and reduce post-harvest losses, Kakembo opted for value addition by processing his own oil.

“It takes 4kg of sunflower grain to produce one litre of oil, which sells for an average of sh6,000,” explains Kakaire.

“In addition, the by-product — sunflower seedcake — is processed into livestock feed, fetching between sh200 and sh800 per kg, depending on the season. Nothing goes to waste, so there’s no harm to the environment.”

Today, KAF Millers processes four tonnes of sunflower grain per day, producing 1,200 litres of Sun Drop Virgin Cooking Oil. The product is certified by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and boasts a shelf life of one year.

The oil is sold primarily within the Lango sub-region, where its health benefits — including being cholesterol-free — are well appreciated.

Empowering communities

KAF Millers works with out-growers in Anai, Okii, and Bar-Apwo parishes, who supply over 200 tonnes of sunflower per season. These farmers receive agricultural inputs on credit, with the cost deducted upon sale — a model that encourages trust, quality control, and the adoption of high-oil-content seed varieties.

Through a strategic partnership with the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) under the Ministry of Agriculture, KAF Millers has become a nucleus farm.

The company provides subsidised seeds, guaranteed markets, and farmer training covering key practices such as:

• Weeding
• Pest and disease control
• Fertiliser application
• Timely harvesting
• Proper post-harvest handling

A family legacy

Martin Kakembo beams with pride when talking about the next generation.

“Aisha is passionate about farming and production. I believe she’ll take the company to the next level,” he says.

“I’ve encouraged all my children to engage in agriculture so that KAF can continue for generations to come.”

Labour force and worker welfare

KAF Millers employs eight permanent staff, including Kakembo and Kakaire.

“Our staff earn between sh500,000 and sh1.2m, depending on their roles. We also provide meals, accommodation, and medical support,” Kakaire notes, underscoring the company’s commitment to staff well-being.

Challenges on the road ahead

• Despite its progress, KAF Millers faces several challenges: Limited access and high cost of improved oilseed varieties continue to hinder both quality and yield for smallholder farmers.
• Rising competition from new oil processors in the region has intensified the scramble for raw materials.

“Almost every month, a new company opens up,” says Kakaire.

“Some of our partner farmers are lured away by these newcomers, which disrupts supply.”

Vision for the future

Kakembo remains optimistic. With growing urbanisation, health-conscious consumers, and Uganda’s population now surpassing 51 million (Uganda Bureau of Statistics), the demand for seed oil is only increasing.

“The market is expanding rapidly,” he says.

“Now that our oil has the UNBS quality mark, we’re planning to scale up production and position KAF among East Africa’s leading oil producers.”

Key to this vision is expanding the out-grower network to include over 1,000 farmers, ensuring a stable supply of high-quality oil seeds.

“With consistent raw material, we’ll be able to boost production and access regional and international export markets,” Kakembo adds.