Master of Science in Agricultural Sciences (Agribusiness)
The Masters of Management in Agribusiness degree program is designed to meet the growing need for agribusiness professionals with advanced conceptual, critical thinking and quantitative training. The degree program provides a unique blend of analytical, behavioral economics and business capabilities.
The program explores management and innovation in the context of the distinctive relationship between land, agribusiness and the global trading environment. Ugandan and international students will appreciate the constraints and opportunities confronting leaders and managers operating in the agribusiness sectors including the understanding, analysis and management of bio-economic systems and agribusiness products and services.
The program is designed to meet the needs of executives keen on enhancing their management capabilities in agricultural input supply, agricultural production, commodity assembly and agro-processing, agricultural marketing organizations, environmental management, agricultural transport, storage and logistics, agricultural policy and global food systems. It provides a system–wide perspective of managerial problems confronting such leaders and leads them a path of providing sustainable solutions.
The program seeks to produce graduates with sound ethical judgment, rigorous analysis, management competencies and ability to define and solve problems facing the agricultural and food sector in Africa. It prepares participants to help the global food and agribusiness sectors reinvent themselves
The two-year aims at exposing students to economic concepts through the 10 core courses in addition to one elective before embarking on research work. The current fields of specialization are Human Resource Management in Agribusiness, Finance & Risk Management in Agribusiness, Benefit Cost Analysis for Agribusiness Projects, Strategic
Management in Agribusiness, Agribusiness Supply Chain Management and International Agribusiness Marketing. This is intended to equip professionals with knowledge and skills essential for transforming the agro-food sectors and rural economies of Africa and the rest of the world in an environmentally sustainable fashion. This is justifiable based on the premise that highly trained local professionals will be in a better position to address the challenges posed by changes in global and local economies, technology, and marketing by adapting their advanced knowledge and methods to the particular institutional, political and economic circumstances of the world.
Overview
| Code | MAB |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Study time | Fulltime |
| Intake | August |
Entry requirements
Admission to the Master of Science in Agriculture (Agribusiness) follows the general regulations of Kabale University and the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Applicants must:
- Hold an honours Bachelor’s degree in any of the following fields, or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university:
- BSc Agriculture
- BSc Agribusiness
- BSc Biological Sciences
- BSc Forestry
- BSc Environmental Science
- BSc Agricultural Economics
- Or any other agriculture-related degree deemed equivalent.
- Applicants with a pass degree may be considered if they have:
- Substantial professional experience in agribusiness, agricultural finance, value chain management, or related fields, or
- A relevant Postgraduate Diploma in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, or a related field.
- International applicants must provide evidence of equivalence to the above qualifications and meet the university’s requirements for international admissions.
Fees structure
| Tuition Fees per Semester (East African) | UGX 1,500,000 |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees per Semester (Non East Africans) | UGX 2,250,000 |
| Fieldwork/School Practice/Industrial Training/Internship/COBERS Fees (per year) | UGX 1,000,000 (Years 1&2) |
Functional Fees
| Compulsory fees | UGX |
| Application fee | 50,000 |
| Registration fees (per Academic Year) | 60,000 |
| Identity Card (Payable once in the 1st Semester) | 20,000 |
| Student Manual (Payable once in the 1st Semester) | 20,000 |
| Library fee (per Academic Year) | 50,000 |
| Medicare fee (per semester) | 30,000 |
| Computer Laboratory fee (per Academic Year) | 100,000 |
| Laboratory Fee for MSc in Chemistry (Per semester) | 200,000 |
| Examination fee (per semester) | 100,000 |
| Innovation fund (per year) | 100,000 |
| Research fee (per Academic Year) | 200,000 |
| Development Fund (per Academic Year) | 100,000 |
| Student Games Union fee (Academic Year) | 20,000 |
| Student Guild fee (per Academic Year) | 20,000 |
| Contribution to the Uganda National Students’ Association (UNSA) (per Academic Year) | 2,000 |
| Certification (per copy) | 5,000 |
| Graduation fee (Payable on Completion of Studies) | |
| a) Ceremony | 80,000 |
| b) Transcript | 50,000 |
| c) Certificate | 50,000 |
| d) Convocation | 20,000 |
| Total | 200,000 |
| Consequential fees | |
| Late Registration (per semester; after the deadline for official registration) | 50,000 |
| Replacement of Transcript (per issue) | 50,000 |
| Replacement of other University Credentials (Admission Letter, Identity Card, Library Card, etc…) | 20,000 |
| Retake/Supplementary/Missed/Special Exam fee (per course) | 50,000 |
| To be remitted to NCHE via www.ura.go.ug | |
| Contribution to National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) Collections (per Academic Year) | 20,000 |
Fees Structure 2025-2026
Course details
- LH Lecture Hours
- CH Contact Hours
- TH Tutorial Hours
- CU Credit Units
| Course Code | LH | TH | CH | CU | ||
|
YEAR 1 SEMESTER 1 COURSES |
||||||
| MAB8111 | Agribusiness production management | 30 | 15 | 60 | 4 | |
| MAB8112 | Strategic management for agribusiness | 30 | 15 | 60 | 4 | |
| MAB8113 | Advanced micro economics | 30 | 15 | 60 | 4 | |
| MAB8114 | Biometrics | 30 | 15 | 60 | 4 | |
| MAB8115 | Decision analysis for agribusiness | 30 | 15 | 60 | 4 | |
| MCAR8008 | Computer applications in agribusiness | 30 | 15 | 60 | 4 | |
| Total | 24 | |||||
| YEAR 1 SEMESTER 2 | ||||||
| MAB8121 | Agricultural marketing management | 30 | 15 | 60 | 4 | |
| MAB8122 | Human resource management | 30 | 15 | 60 | 4 | |
| MAB8123 | Project planning and investment analysis | 30 | 15 | 60 | 4 | |
| MAB8124 | International trade in agriculture | 30 | 15 | 60 | 4 | |
| MAB8125 | Research methodology in business management | 30 | 15 | 60 | 4 | |
| ABE8304 | Scholarly writing and publication skills | 30 | 15 | 60 | 4 | |
| Total | 24 | |||||
| YEAR TWO SEMESTER 1 | ||||||
| MAB8211 | Dissertation | 5 | ||||
| MAB8212 | Agribusiness financial management | 30 | 15 | 45 | 3 | |
| MAB8213 | AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS | 30 | 15 | 45 | 3 | |
| ELECTIVES (STUDENTS TO SELECT ONE) | ||||||
| MAB214 | AGRIBUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP | 30 | 15 | 45 | 3 | |
| MAB215 | AGRIBUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND POLICY | 30 | 15 | 45 | 3 | |
| MAB216 | AGRICULTUTAL FOOD MARKETING
|
30 | 15 | 45 | 3 | |
| MAB8217 | AGRIBUSINESS VALUE CHAIN MANAGEMENT | 30 | 15 | 45 | 3 | |
| Total | 14 | |||||
L = Lecture hours, CH = Contact Hours, PH = Practical hour, CU = Credit Units.
TOTAL CREDIT UNITS: 60
Career opportunities
Graduates of the MSc in Agriculture (Agribusiness) acquire advanced analytical, managerial, and entrepreneurial competencies that prepare them for diverse professional roles in agribusiness development, value chain management, agricultural finance, and policy advisory services. Career opportunities include:
- Agribusiness Managers and Specialists. Overseeing agribusiness enterprises, farm firms, cooperatives, and agribusiness operations; improving productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness across the value chain.
- Value Chain and Market Analysts. Analysing agricultural value chains, market dynamics, pricing, and trade opportunities; supporting agribusinesses, cooperatives, and policymakers to enhance market access and competitiveness.
- Agricultural Finance and Investment Officers. Evaluating agribusiness investments, conducting risk assessments, providing financial advisory services, and supporting credit and insurance solutions for the agricultural sector.
- Agribusiness Policy Analysts / Advisors. Providing evidence-based guidance to government ministries, local governments, NGOs, and development agencies on agribusiness policy, market regulation, trade, and rural enterprise development.
- Agribusiness Entrepreneurs and Enterprise Developers. Starting and managing innovative agribusiness ventures, social enterprises, or agritech solutions to improve market access, food systems, and rural incomes.
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officers. Designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks for agribusiness projects, rural development interventions, and investment programmes.
- Extension and Advisory Services Specialists. Providing technical and business advisory services to farmers, cooperatives, and agribusiness enterprises on farm management, value addition, post-harvest handling, and market linkages.
- Agribusiness Consultants. Supporting public and private sector organisations, NGOs, and development partners in feasibility studies, business planning, value chain development, investment appraisals, and agribusiness policy analysis.
- Research and Development Officers. Conducting applied research on agribusiness models, market systems, value chains, supply chain optimisation, rural entrepreneurship, and agricultural economics in research institutes and universities.
- Academic and Scholarly Careers. Joining higher education institutions as lecturers or researchers, contributing to knowledge in agribusiness, publishing research, and mentoring the next generation of agricultural professionals.