General
Kafuuma Joseph- Mak alumnus transforming lives through Urban Farming and Micro gardening
For so many years, Uganda’s agricultural sector has been famed to be the backbone of the country’s economy. To date however, numerous imperative findings have pointed out that Uganda hasn’t maximally exploited the incalculable potential of this sector in transforming lives. Archaic agricultural methods are one of the pointed out causes of this phenomena. As a university that strives to provide innovative teaching, learning, research and services responsive to national and global needs, Makerere university continues to contribute to building a strong human resource base that is ready to impact social change across all sectors of development.
With its emphasis on modernizing agriculture, Makerere University has for long provided solutions to the looming challenges that are crippling the agricultural sector. Through its strong field based research initiatives, the University has generated technologies and identified innovative approaches for improving agriculture and ensuring positive changes in farmers’ livelihoods. This has been backed by laboratory experiments and introduction of courses such as Agricultural sciences, Agribusiness management and, Agricultural and Rural innovations.
One product of these initiatives is Agriculture for Health and Wealth (AHW), a demonstration and training farm in urban agriculture. The farm is co-founded by Kafuuma Joseph, Ssebagala Harold and Tumuhimbise Enock; alumni of Makerere University who graduated in 2017 with BSc Agriculture (Crop Science) degree.
AHW is a beauty of innovation that started as model farm. Located at Kijjabijo, 9km from the Gayaza Trading Centre along Kayunga road, the now fully fledged demonstration and training farm sits on one and a half acres of land.
According to Mr. Kafuuma, AHW has developed modern innovations and technologies that are needed for urban farming with a nursery bed and seedling production area for vegetables, spices, fruits and agroforestry seedlings. The farm has also expanded to conduct onsite and field trainings on modern and urban farming, crop protection as well as recycling bio and non-bio degradable refuse.
In an interview with Mr. Mpindi Percy Christopher and Ms. Nabatte Proscovia, the Assistant Communication Officer Makerere University Public Relations Office, Mr. Kafuuma said that the big knowledge gap that exists between institutions of higher learning and communities prompted him and his friends to create a demonstration (model farm) upon which they can extend knowledge and skills obtained from the degree program to the community.
“We realized that there is too much information, new ideas and innovations generated at universities. However, most of this knowledge does not reach intended users and these are the farmers. For so long we have lacked a medium through which constructive knowledge and technologies generated by universities can reach community to improve the agricultural production,” he said.
One and a half years down the road, the team has developed unique labor and resource saving technologies allowing growing of crops on a small piece of land and in containers; enabling even a landless tenant in a single roomed apartment to have sufficient food for domestic consumption and surplus for sale.
“Some of these technologies include sack gardening (AHW sack mound), vertical gardening, mobile gardens, rack gardens, hanging gardens; enabling even people with compounds on lawn, pavers, tarmac or concrete to grow crops without affecting the integrity of their compounds,” said Mr. Kafuuma.
He said that the technologies also facilitate recycling of non-biodegradable rubbish like polythene and plastics by using them as micro gardens for raising crops. “The bio degradable rubbish such as food leftovers is converted in to composite manure which is used to enhance plant nutrition. This recycling scheme helps to minimize blockage of water ways and spread of water borne diseases.”
Through technical advice on setting up and management of agricultural investments, AWH has enabled many pensioners and retirees to harness returns from their hard-earned benefits. While the Government of Uganda is looking at agriculture as a focal sector in fighting unemployment among the youth, Mr. Kafuuma says that urban agriculture and micro gardening is a virgin area that the youth can tap into.
Listening to the future prospects of Kafuuma Joseph, urban farming can promote self-sustainability and food security among the internally displaced people and refugees.
Kafuuma’s story is just one of a myriad of other ways in which Makerere’s Almuni are impacting their communities.
Article by Mpindi Percy Christopher, Student of Law, Makerere University and Nabatte Proscovia, Assistant Communication Officer Makerere University Public Relations Office.
Photo source: Mr. Kafuuma Joseph
General
Prof. Nawangwe urges young people to take up leadership in innovation for the transformation of Africa
By the Program Communication Team
On Sunday, February 2, 2025, Makerere University hosted the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Council Representatives meeting, which brings together young people from around 45 partner universities of the Mastercard Foundation.
During the event, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe urged young people to prepare for leadership roles in innovation, especially starting with their communities, if they wish to see the positive transformation they desire in Africa.
“I urge you to connect and network with your peers and discuss how you can form inter-university teams to innovate solutions that will address the development challenges in our communities for the transformation of the African continent.” Prof. Nawangwe remarked.
Prof. Nawangwe applauded the Mastercard Foundation for its partnership with Makerere University and Uganda in general, which has uplifting effects on many young people.
“Makerere University and Uganda have made remarkable strides in providing Higher Education to Young People, thanks to the generous support of the Mastercard Foundation, which has contributed significantly to educating the next generation of African leaders. Through valuable initiatives and partnerships, such as the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Makerere University is poised to continue educating young individuals who will significantly impact Uganda’s and Africa’s economic growth.” Prof. Nawangwe noted.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nawangwe, further urged young people to seize the opportunities the Mastercard Foundation and other like-minded development partners presented to improve their lives and communities.
“The Mastercard Foundation has given you the platform and opportunity to be leaders and beacons of change. Embrace this responsibility with courage. Let the core values of the Scholars Program—humility, listening, kindness and respect, co-creation, and impact—guide your actions,” Prof. Nawangwe emphasized.
While speaking at the same event, the Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, Prof. Justine Namaalwa, enumerated high-level achievements the Program had accomplished for the last decade at Makerere University. She pointed out that in terms of scholarship enrolment, the Program had recruited 1,032 Scholars, of which 76% were Females, 7% were Internationals, 4% were Refugees, and about 1% were Youth with Disabilities.
Prof. Namaalwa further pointed out other post-graduation achievements, including a 94% completion rate of the total number of Scholars enrolled in the Scholars Program. She pointed out that between 2018 and 2025, the Program had graduated 964 Scholars, of which 37% were employed, mainly in the private sector.
Prof. Namaalwa revealed that beyond the Scholars Program, the Mastercard Foundation had put other initiatives supporting the university in numerous ways. She pointed out other initiatives such as the e-learning initiative, a COVID-19 Response measure to ensure continuity of Teaching and Learning at Makerere University and the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Collaborative: Makerere University, in collaboration with the University of Ghana, the University of Cape Town, and the University of Cambridge, is implementing a new initiative that addresses one of the world’s most significant challenges in recent times—climate change.
Prof. Namaalwa revealed that the Research Collaborative would provide opportunities for MSc and PhD scholarships to African students and encourage young people to enrol as graduate students starting in the academic year 2025/2026.
The event was punctuated with fireside chats, during which young people had an opportunity to discuss a number of topical issues related to entrepreneurship and Transformative leadership. Thereafter, the visiting students were taken on a guided tour around Makerere University.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Council comprises student leaders from partner Universities. Each Partner University has one Council Representative. They represent the needs of Scholars and work with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program teams at each institution, the Mastercard Foundation, and Alumni.
On Monday 3rd February 2025, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe handed over three (3) university buses to the respective leadership in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), the College of Health Sciences (CHS), and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB).
The new buses mark a significant improvement in mobility and learning for Makerere University students and staff, furthering the institution’s commitment to practical education and community service.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the University’s Freedom Square, Prof. Nawangwe highlighted the significance of the new buses in enhancing teaching and learning. “These buses will play a crucial role in improving students’ practical learning experiences by ensuring reliable transportation for fieldwork and community outreach,” he said.
Prof. Nawangwe expressed gratitude to the Parliament and the Government of Uganda for providing the resources for the new buses, emphasizing their importance in replacing the old fleet, which frequently breaks down. The new 2023 model buses, with a 67-seater capacity, were secured at a cost of UGX 626million each and are expected to save the university significant maintenance costs and improve the learning experience for students.
Principals from the respective colleges expressed their appreciation for the new buses. Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine, Principal of CoVAB, emphasized the importance of the buses for practical training at locations such as Lake Mburo National Park. Associate Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, Principal of CAES, and Associate Prof. Bruce Kirenga, Principal of CHS, highlighted the buses’ role in facilitating community engagement and outreach.
He explained that the decision to purchase Isuzu buses instead of those manufactured by Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) a Makerere University partner, was based on prior engagement with the former, as well as the need to utilize the allocated funds promptly within the Financial Year, which couldn’t be accomplished at KMC due to their high demand.
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