General
CAES and ACCELERATE Collaboration to Initiate PPPs That Boost Youth and Student Agribusiness Innovations
Makerere University’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) together with partners under the ACCELERATE Initiative have held a one day workshop and round-table conversation on Youth, Education and Innovation in development of sustainable Agribusiness.
The workshop was opened by the Deputy Director Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) in charge of Administration Dr. David Owiny at the Makerere University Senate building on Friday, 17th August 2018.
ACCELERATE is a multi-stakeholder partnership for innovation, co-creation and enabling youth to build sustainable agribusiness informed by evidence-based research and with a global presence.
The aim of the workshop was to initiate Public-Private Partnerships for blended learning, which should identify the causes, consequences and expected responses for improving the capacity and competitiveness of the youth in agri-food value chains and solving the challenges of unemployment in Uganda with a global perspective.
The workshop was attended by members from Makerere University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Uganda Agribusiness Alliance, the Agripreneurship Alliance (Switzerland), Gulu university, RUFORUM, Rural Community in Development (RUCID), The Open Impact Institute, representatives from the private sector, development agencies, youth agripreneurship programs among others.
The Principal CAES, represented by Dr. John James Okiror welcomed participants to Makerere and Uganda saying, the university prides in such collaborative efforts in solving modern challenges.
In a special way, the Principal recognized the policy makers present adding that their presence signified their interest in the in Makerere’s activities and finding solutions to issues affecting the youth.
Makerere University program coordinator Dr. Fred Kabi said, the theme of the workshop was Entrepreneurship and Innovation for the Future of Ugandans with Emphasis on Marketing.
“The major aim of this platform is to ask a very hard question. How can we as a university get involved in solving the current challenge of unemployment in Uganda?
And we feel innovation and entrepreneurship can be one of the solutions and therefore this platform is seeking for a paradigm shift in training so that we are able to produce graduates who are innovative and entrepreneurial.
But we realize that innovations and entrepreneurship is a market. All innovations produced at the university need to be harnessed hence the need for government actors to help in lobbying,” Dr. Kabi explained.
Dr. Kabi said that the organizers went around the country visiting farmers and markets with innovations and organizations involved in value addition technologies like roasting coffee and packaging.
“The major question put to Government was whether it can deliberately establish regional incubation centres to engage the youth so that they are able to produce products for the local and international markets” Kabi added.
Because of the international markets, Kabi said the platform sought partnership from the global North to help form trade links.
“Students do not have to dig, they can see what others are doing; package it in an enticing manner to reach internal and external markets. We are trying to expose students and also invite inspirational speakers and this is crucial.
Overall, it is because of the high levels of unemployment that we thought we need a paradigm shift in training. But needed to feel the signals that is the market. We invited MUBS because they understand the aspect of international markets better,” the Don remarked.
Dr. Kabi disclosed that the CAES had come up with a mobility exchange program with Erasmus Mundus where Makerere University students on both undergraduate and masters programmes will benefit.
He said, because of the bi-national nature of this program there is need for a credit transfer system. The program will also involve staff exchanges between Makerere and the Swedish universities.
The Woman Member of Parliament Kitgum Municipality Hon. Beatrice Anywar gave a presentation on women and food security in Uganda and shared the experiences of women from Northern Uganda and the initiatives she was spearheading in her constituency to improve livelihoods.
Anywar observed that Uganda is a rich and blessed country but the population has not got the best out of it despite a number of Government initiatives such as the NAADS and OWEC.
She said there is need to focus on empowering women if the country is to move to commercialized agriculture on grounds that they are better agents of change.
“I am proud of women because of their ability to undertake multiple responsibilities to ensure there is food on the table… They are passionate to preserve the environment and they are less corrupt.” Anywar said.
The MP also noted that the potential of the youth who form the biggest percentage of Uganda’s population has not been fully tapped into. She also implored the University to classify Ugandan soils.
“If we could regionalize agriculture according to soil types so that the North has simsim, Buganda-matooke, Kabale-irish potatoes, this would avoid fragmented cultivation, establish regional silos and division of labour would come in,” Hon. Anywar said.
Prior to this workshop a section of participants and students visited RUCID in Mityana, Makerere University Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre (FTBIC), the University Farm at Kabanyolo and the Consortium for enhancing University Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development Limited (CURAD) centre.
Other sites visited after the workshop included organic farmers at Prunes Kololo and Gudies Leisure Farm in Najjera.
Report compiled by;
Jane Anyango,
Principal Communication Officer, CAES
The Director of Makerere University Jinja Campus, Associate Professor Ronald Kakungulu-Mayambala, has urged students to familiarise themselves with the Safeguarding policy aimed at creating a safer and more inclusive learning environment.
Speaking during the safeguarding policy sensitization meeting held today Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at the Civil Service College, Jinja, Prof. Kakungulu-Mayambala, emphasized the importance of awareness and adherence to the policy, which seeks to protect students, staff, and other stakeholders from all forms of abuse, harassment, exploitation, and discrimination.
“As Management we want every student to enjoy their stay at the University without being tormented and that can only happen, if students know their rights by reading about different policies on our website. You are meant to be living in a safe environment. We do not want anybody’s dream to be shattered or somebody to drop out from University,” Prof. Kakungulu-Mayambala, said.
In his speech, Prof. Kakungulu-Mayambala, also called upon students who have complaints but do not know the reporting lines, to approach staff safeguarding champions to make sure that they live in a safe environment.
Addressing guests, Emmanuel Muchake, the Guild Administrator at Jinja Campus, pointed out that the launch of the safeguarding policy is timely because as a University, without creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning, they will not have students graduate.
On Friday, April 4,2025, the Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio, Right Honourable Lukia Isanga Nakadama, officially launched the Safeguarding Policy and commended Makerere University for crafting a policy that lays out the University’s framework for embedding viable safeguarding measures into its ethos and all institutional activities and processes to: Identify, detect, and act swiftly on safeguarding risks.
The Safeguarding Policy was developed in response to the growing need for institutions of higher learning to implement proactive measures that address concerns related to student welfare, mental health, gender-based violence, and power imbalances in academic settings.
Some of potential safeguarding risks in Institutions of higher learning include emotional distress, Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH); material loss, financial exploitation, discrimination and neglect, unfair and illegitimate response to civic engagements, cyber security/threats, psychological and emotional harm, substance abuse and physical assault. Discrimination and neglect which are often high risks for students with disabilities and international students.
The safeguarding policy sensitization meeting in Jinja Campus brought together students and staff in a meaningful dialogue on safeguarding issues affecting learning.
The event was graced by Dr. Rodney Rugyema, from the Dean of Students Office, who emphasized the University’s commitment to the well-being of all its members. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of safeguarding policies in preventing abuse, harassment, exploitation, and other forms of misconduct within the Jinja Campus community.
“Safeguarding is not a one-time action, but a continuous culture of care and accountability. We all have a role to play in ensuring a safe and respectful space for learning and growth,” Dr Rugyema, said.
The sensitization session covered key topics including; recognizing signs of abuse, understanding reporting procedures on the MakSafeSpace and fostering mutual respect among peers.
Participants were encouraged to actively engage and reflect on their roles in upholding safety standards both on and off campus.
Students who attended the sensitization welcomed the initiative, with many expressing optimism that the policy would improve campus safety and encourage victims to come forward without fear of retaliation.
“We have seen issues go unreported in the past because students didn’t know where to turn. This policy provides clarity and assurance that the university is taking these matters seriously,” noted, a third-year student.
The University plans to conduct a series of sensitization workshops and distribute printed copies of the policy to ensure that every member of the campus community is well-informed. This initiative is part of Makerere University‘s broader strategy to reinforce its values of integrity, respect, and protection for all.
The Safeguarding Sensitization Meeting concluded with a collective pledge to uphold safety, dignity, and mutual respect within the University community.
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