Agriculture & Environment
Journalists Urged to Double Efforts on Environment Conservation Reporting
Published
5 years agoon

Environment conservationists have appealed to journalists to enhance their efforts on public awareness and policy action for forest conservation when executing their reporting duties. This was during a virtual media engagement organized by the REDD+ East Africa (REDD-EA), on 13th October 2020, to provide updates on Building capacity for REDD+ in East Africa for improved ecosystem health and for sustainable livelihoods in Eastern Africa.
The meeting convened over 20 journalists, communication specialists, representatives from Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) and experts in environment conservation from REDD-EA at Makerere University.
REDD+ stands for; Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus Conservation of Carbon Stocks, Sustainable Management of Forests, and Enhancement of carbon stocks. It is a multilateral policy aimed at conserving forests for the mitigation of climate change.
According to the Principal Investigatorof REDD-EA project in Uganda, Prof. John Tabuti, REDD+ intends to control emission and increase the capture of carbon by forests. Its two (2) co-benefits are to conserve biodiversity and to enhance human wellbeing.
“REDD+ is a form of Payment for Ecosystem Services that was agreed to globally in 2007. It is an incentive-based mechanism whereby countries and communities participating in REDD+ receive payments for conserving forests and achievements are reported in terms of avoided carbon emissions or sequestered carbon,” he said.
REDD+ has five objectives namely,
- Reducing emissions from deforestation;
- Reducing emissions from forest degradation;
- Conservation of forest carbon stocks;
- Sustainable management of forests;
- Enhancement of forest carbon stocks
Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Tabuti acknowledged the significant contribution from the media when it comes to environment conservation. He however, noted the need for journalists to strengthen their reporting mechanisms on raising awareness and influencing policy for action on forest conservation in Uganda.
Prof. Tabuti said that the rate at which deforestation is occurring in Uganda calls for immediate intervention. To him, despite Government efforts to protect and conserve the natural forests, the country still experiences forest degradation.
Dr. Vincent Muwanika, a scientist on the REDD-EA project, called for a working mutual relationship between the media and environment experts to disseminate information among communities on environment conservation and the importance of protecting and conserving natural forests. “As specialists, we have more than enough data but when it comes to information dissemination, we need the media on board, because they have the language that appeals to the wider public. They have the writing, communication and reporting skills with unique traits that can take us far when it comes to informing the public, and influencing policy actions.”
The Moderator of the REDD-Media training, Ms. Ritah Namisango who is also the Principal Public Relations Officer at Makerere University emphasized the need for researchers and scientists to simplify the technical jargon/terminologies when speaking to journalists and the general public. “It is important to communicate your research using simple and clear messages. Maintain the facts and research findings, but communicate in a language that is understood by journalists and the local people. It is also time to consider the usage of audio-visual content and short videos to disseminate your research,” she said.
During the interactive training, the journalists urged the REDD-EA team and other projects at Makerere University to always engage with the media early enough and ensure that the media is on board from the inception, designing and implementation. Media engagement when designing communication strategies would enable the journalists and researchers/scientists to improve the effectiveness of communication.
The journalists and Communication specialists’ understanding of REDD+ was further enriched by Mr. Xavier Mugumya’s presentation titled: “How does Uganda benefit from the REDD+ policy?”
The Assistant Commissioner for Forestry/REDD+ National Focal Point, Ministry of Water and Environment, Mrs. Margaret Mwebesa, pointed out that the Government is working hard to slow and reverse the declining forest covers especially on private land. In a presentation on Uganda REDD+ Readiness Process, Achievements and Developments, Mrs. Mwebesa said that in 1990, 70% of Uganda’s natural forest cover was constituted by forests on private land and by 2017 this had reduced to only 38% due to deforestation and forest degradation.
She recognized the tremendous role played by the Government of Uganda to develop and enforce policies that are geared towards conserving Uganda’s forests and other natural resources.
According to Mrs. Mwebesa, Uganda launched a National REDD+ Strategy during United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 23rd Conference of Parties (COP 23) on 16th November, 2017 in Bonn, Germany and nationally in March 2019. The strategy is grounded in the Climate Change Policy (April 2015), National Forest Policy (2001) and National Forest and Tree Planting Act (2003), National Development Plan II and Uganda’s 2040 Vision.
In addition to promoting Public-Private-Partnerships, particularly those that depend on commodity value chains, Government has also initiated a mechanism through which REDD+ strategies will be integrated into the various sectors of development.
“Government included the National REDD+ Strategy implementation among the key priority areas for Public financing with effect from FY 2019/20. We are now lobbying sectors such as Agriculture, wildlife/tourism, energy, infrastructure, local governments, water and lands to incorporate the REDD+ strategies into their planning and budgeting frameworks,” she remarked.
Shading the journalist perspective on forest degradation and deforestation in respect to the role of media; Mr. Gerald Tenywa an environment journalist from New Vision noted that media in Uganda has played a critical role in setting the public agenda. We have uncuffed and followed up issues on sold and encroached upon natural resources,” he said.
Mr. Tenywa noted that media has for long played the education role, when it comes to environment degradation and conservation by training and informing the public about the importance of protecting and conserving natural resources.
“We have fostered the entertainment role by designing edutainment channels that convey the message in a manner that attracts people’s attention. Journalists have always deployed the watchdog/investigative tactics when carrying out their duties in respect to environment conservation. On many occasions we have dug deep into the details and followed up cases related to forest and swamp reclamation in Uganda,” he said.
Reiterating the critical role of media in environment conservation Mr. Noah Omuya, said that journalists have faced it rough while executing their duties. Among the challenges he noted included; the perception of media towards environment stories, cost implication when covering the environment related issues, Lack of journalist capacity to tell an environment story, and complicated language that is used by the environment conservation specialists.
In her presentation, Ms. Kellen Aganyira explained that social and environmental safeguards (SES) are a mandatory requirement for REDD+. In particular, full and effective participation of forest dependent communities is a critical safeguard that creates opportunities and reduces risks of REDD+. Accordingly, she conducted research to determine factors that influence local peoples’ participation in SES projects in Uganda. She found out that the youth are less likely to participate in SES projects implemented on private land. This finding is critical for Uganda, where 78% of its population is below 35 years. Hence the need to plan REDD+ incentive packages that are attractive to this age group.
The REDD+ EA team at Makerere University consists of the following members: Prof. John Tabuti, Dr. Vincent Muwanika, Dr. Dorothy Nampazira and Dr. Josephine Esaete.
Please see Downloads for the detailed presentations.
Article by: Proscovia Nabatte
Edited by: Ritah Namisango
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Agriculture & Environment
Call for Grants to Develop Policy Briefs and Working Papers on Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Systems
Published
3 days agoon
October 6, 2025By
Mak Editor
The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), in close collaboration with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), recognizes the vital role of young researchers in shaping Africa’s future. Graduate students, in particular, bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and rigorous research to the climate and agriculture discourse. Yet, much of this knowledge remains locked in academic theses and journal articles, with limited translation into policy and practice spaces where it can have the greatest impact. To bridge this gap, RUFORUM & AGRA are launching a grant opportunity for graduate students
(Master and PhD Candidates & Post-Doctoral Fellows) enrolled in African universities to develop policy briefs and/or working papers on strengthening climate-resilient agri-food systems. This initiative is designed to support students not only to generate high-quality academic outputs but also to translate their findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders.
The program will provide educational, skilling, and incubation opportunities, preparing young people; especially young women for the world of work. It will also enhance access to market-relevant training and practical skilling opportunities, enabling youth to gain the competencies needed by the labor market for both self-employment and wage employment. Through this call, RUFORUM & AGRA seeks to empower a new generation of African scholars to contribute directly to national, regional, and continental dialogues on climate change, resilience, and sustainable agri-food systems.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Applicants must submit an abstract of no more than 500 words through the RUFORUM online application portal (https://rims2.ruforum.org/)
o Instructions for submission can be accessed on this link - Inquiries: cgs[@]ruforum.org
- RUFORUM reserves the right to make final award decisions.
IMPORTANT DATES
Call Opens: September 5, 2025
- Deadline for Abstract Submission: October 15, 2025
- Notification of Selected Abstracts: October 30, 2025
- Submission of Final Policy Brief/Working Paper: December 31, 2025
Agriculture & Environment
Mak Hosts TORCH Project Training Workshop on Clean Energy & Green Growth
Published
7 days agoon
October 2, 2025
Written by Matila Tom Micah
Makerere University on 1st September 2025 held a training and retooling workshop for stakeholders under the TORCH Project. TORCH is a collaborative initiative between Makerere University, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences-BOKU, Kyambogo University, Kabale University, University of Juba, and Busitema University. Funded by the OeAD-GmbH under the Austrian Partnership Programme in Higher Education Research for Development (APPEAR), the project seeks to strengthen cooperation between academia and local communities to promote green growth and environmental sustainability. The project aims to promote academic-community partnerships through living labs, training, research, and outreach.
The workshop, held under the theme “Towards a Clean Energy and Zero-Emission Society in East Africa: Strengthening Academic and Community Collaborations in Outreach, Training, and Research in Green Growth and a Healthy Environment”, brought together academics, students, policymakers, and community leaders. Together, they explored strategies for green growth, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
Dr. Patrick Musinguzi, TORCH’s Principal Investigator, opened the event with an overview of the project, explaining key concepts such as green growth and the innovative Living Labs approach. He underscored the urgent need for African universities to lead the charge in green growth, a development model balancing economic progress with natural resource conservation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
While the country has adopted the Uganda Green Growth Development Strategy, Dr. Musinguzi pointed out that universities have yet to fully integrate green growth principles into curricula, research, and community engagement. TORCH aims to bridge this gap by establishing three Living Labs in the Central, South-western, and Eastern regions of Uganda, focusing on enhancing teaching, community-driven research, and policy development.
Green Growth
In his presentation, Dr. Musinguzi emphasized the importance of adopting green growth as Uganda’s path to development. He described green growth as “environmentally sustainable economic progress that encourages low-carbon, socially inclusive development.” “Green growth is not merely about environmental protection – it is about creating a future where economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability coexist,” he explained.

Why Green Growth matters for Uganda
With Uganda’s rapidly growing population placing immense pressure on land, food, and energy resources, Dr. Musinguzi pointed out that per capita land ownership had significantly decreased, while climate change impacts such as floods, prolonged droughts, and erratic rainfall continue to threaten food security.
He stressed that pursuing green growth offers Uganda multiple benefits:
- For farmers, it ensures resilience to climate shocks, better yields, and access to innovations like solar irrigation and biogas.
- For the youth, it opens up new job opportunities in renewable energy, waste management, and eco-friendly enterprises.
- For policymakers, it aligns development plans with environmental sustainability while attracting green investments.
- For households, it reduces energy costs, improves health, and enhances overall well-being.
Uganda’s policy commitments
The workshop highlighted national frameworks already in place to support green growth, including the National Environment Act (2019), the Climate Change Act (2021), and the Uganda Green Growth Development Strategy (2017–2030). These policies, coupled with Uganda’s Vision 2040, set a clear direction for a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.
Green technologies being piloted under the TORCH Project
During the workshop, Dr. Musinguzi showcased several practical innovations being piloted under the TORCH Project. These include:
- Solar home systems that cut fuel demand by up to 25%.
- Rainwater harvesting tanks that save 20,000–50,000 litres of water per household annually.
- Improved cook-stoves that reduce indoor air pollution and fuel consumption.
- Drip irrigation systems that minimize water loss by up to 60%.
- Biogas systems that convert organic waste into clean energy for households.
Despite these advances, uptake remains low. A 2024 UBOS report revealed that only 3% of Ugandan households currently use clean cooking fuels and technologies, way below international clean energy adoption targets.
The importance of Academia-community engagement in promoting green growth
The training emphasized the need for universities to serve as “living laboratories” for green innovations. Makerere University, through the TORCH Project, is integrating green growth concepts into its curricula, running pilot projects in communities, and training the next generation of sustainability leaders. “We are committed to bridging the gap between academic research and community transformation,” Dr. Musinguzi said. “Green growth must not remain in lecture halls, it has to be felt in farms, households, and cities across Uganda.”
Participants agreed that scaling up green growth is not just a policy ambition, but a national necessity. “With the right investments, awareness, and community involvement, Uganda can transition towards a zero-emission, climate-smart, and inclusive economy by 2040.”

Insights from Participants
- Dr James Wasike Mangeni from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Makerere University highlighted the need to rebuild social structures and foster responsible use of resources within the university, calling on leadership to reinforce environmental management and nurture respectful behaviours among students.
- Dr. Isaac Newton Alou from the Department of Soil Science and Land Use Management at Makerere University praised the green growth and Living Labs concepts, urging incorporation of sustainability into infrastructure projects like green and solar rooftops, and enhancing student-led data collection for impact assessment.
- Dr. Anthony Mwije from the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Makerere University stressed that green growth starts with personal discipline and should be embedded in university operations, including procurement and transport. He advocated for infrastructure supporting sustainable lifestyles, such as bicycle-friendly roads and reliable public transit.
- Dr. Olupot Giregon, Head, Department of Soil Science and Land Use Management at Makerere University raised concerns about the equitable distribution of green growth costs, especially for smallholder farmers, emphasizing stewardship and the importance of making green growth meaningful from curricula to end-users.

Living Labs: Innovation at community level
In rural Uganda, smoky cooking fires pose serious health risks for many families. The TORCH Project is tackling this issue by transforming households from passive energy users into active innovators, building a cleaner, healthier future.
At the heart of this initiative are Living Labs – community hubs where academia, industry, policymakers, and local residents collaborate to develop and test practical green technologies. These include biogas digesters that turn animal waste into clean fuel, solar power systems replacing hazardous kerosene lamps, energy-efficient stoves, and rainwater harvesting solutions.

“Living Labs empower communities, especially women, who face the greatest energy challenges, to lead sustainable transitions,” said Dr. Musinguzi. “Students also work directly with villages, gaining hands-on experience in addressing Africa’s energy needs. A significant advantage is linking these efforts to carbon credits, enabling families to generate income by reducing emissions and turning climate action into economic opportunity.”
The TORCH Project plans to expand Living Labs throughout East Africa, supported by digital tools to accelerate clean energy adoption, climate action, and poverty alleviation. More than just projects, these Labs foster community pride and position local residents as innovators in the fight against climate change.
Agriculture & Environment
Uganda Urged to Strengthen Extension Services to Realize Climate Smart Agriculture Goals
Published
2 weeks agoon
September 25, 2025By
Jane Anyango
Fort Portal, Uganda
Uganda’s progress toward Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) will remain limited unless deliberate efforts are made to strengthen agricultural extension services and turn policy intentions into real impact for farmers.
This was the key message delivered at a high-level policy dialogue held in Fort Portal, which brought together over 30 district officials, researchers, and policymakers from 11 districts across the Bunyoro and Rwenzori sub-regions.
The dialogue, held at Night Rose Hotel, was organized by the Environment for Development (EfD)–Mak Centre, under Makerere University, coordinated by the EfD Global Hub at the University of Gothenburg Sweden, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The event aimed to deepen local understanding of CSA and strengthen connections between policy frameworks and implementation at the grassroots.
In his welcome remarks, Baguma Brian James, Senior Fisheries Officer for Kabarole District, thanked the EfD team for bringing such a relevant discussion to the region. He described the event as a moment of professional and academic reflection, noting that many participants had been reawakened to concepts they once encountered in school.
“I’d like to thank you all for being part of these valuable engagements,” Baguma said. “As Kabarole District, we are actively participating in this project. Our farmers are progressing toward co-funding stages for input support.” He expressed hope that the dialogue would not only offer technical knowledge but also actionable strategies participants could take home and apply.

Representing the Director of EfD-Mak Centre, Dr. Nicholas Kilimani underscored the importance of science in guiding agricultural decisions. He reminded participants that the EfD Centre’s functions include research, outreach, and policy engagement – all of which converge in dialogues like this one.
“The theme of this dialogue Smart Agriculture resonates with Uganda’s urgent need to sustain its agricultural backbone amid mounting pressures from climate change and human activity,” Dr. Kilimani said. He emphasized that decision-making must be grounded in scientific evidence rather than conjecture, pointing out that agriculture, while essential to Uganda’s economy, continues to suffer under environmental degradation, poor planning, and the effects of climate variability.
“We are no longer in an era of trial and error. Decision-making must come from science, not hearsay,” he added. Kilimani also highlighted the power of global collaboration, noting that the EfD network spans six continents, creating a powerful exchange of knowledge to support sustainability around the world. “We are using these global synergies to contribute to a sustainable planet—of which we only have one.”

Fort Portal Deputy Resident City Commissioner, Busingye Emmanuel, officially opened the dialogue and welcomed participants to the city. He applauded the event’s focus on climate-smart agriculture but lamented the widespread failure to enforce environmental laws and coordinate government action effectively.
“Uganda is not short of laws or institutions to protect the environment. The problem is either poor coordination or outright inaction,” Busingye said. He cited the continued degradation of wetlands in Fort Portal as a key example of where environmental protection efforts fall short. While several government agencies exist to enforce these policies, their actions are often fragmented or undermined by personal and political interests.
“If we did what we are supposed to do, we wouldn’t have this level of environmental destruction,” he added. Busingye further urged participants not to treat the event as a box-ticking exercise but as a launching point for real implementation on the ground. “Let’s not attend workshops and stop there. Let us act on the ground.”
Presenting an overview of CSA, Dr. Peter Babyenda revealed sobering statistics about land use and degradation. He noted that agriculture accounts for 72% of Uganda’s land use and that 41% of this land is already degraded. If the current trend continues, by 2040, nearly 90% of Uganda’s land could be under agricultural use, intensifying environmental stress.

“Our natural forest cover once fell to 9%, though efforts to promote CSA have raised it to around 30%,” Dr. Babyenda explained. He warned, however, that only 30% of farmers in Uganda are currently practicing climate-smart techniques — a dangerously low figure given the urgency of climate change.
“CSA offers a triple win increased productivity, improved resilience, and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. “But adoption remains low due to costs, lack of awareness, and poor access to technologies.” Dr. Babyenda also highlighted the European Union’s upcoming regulatory requirements on deforestation-free coffee exports, warning that Uganda could lose access to lucrative markets if it fails to embrace CSA practices. “Without climate-smart agriculture, our exports will suffer,” he stated.
Dr. Florence Lwiza Nsereko delivered an evidence-based presentation on CSA case studies and emphasized the critical role of extension services in scaling CSA. She reiterated that agriculture, deforestation, and other land-use forms like livestock production remain Uganda’s largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Yet despite an abundance of policy documents, actual implementation remains weak.

“Climate Smart Agriculture integrates productivity, adaptation, and mitigation. But its adoption remains low because our extension services lack capacity,” Dr. Lwiza said. She pointed to key barriers in extension delivery, including lack of access to training, weak institutional support, and poor perceptions about CSA among field officers. Notably, she revealed that female extension workers often outperform their male counterparts in CSA delivery.
She further noted that Western Uganda is both highly vulnerable to climate shocks and densely populated, making it a prime candidate for CSA interventions. “Western Uganda is both a climate risk hotspot and an opportunity zone. Now is the time to act,” she concluded.
Adding another layer to the discussion, Dr. Aisha Nanyiti presented research on the role of renewable energy micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in transforming agriculture across Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. She argued that clean energy and climate-smart practices must be pursued together to achieve inclusive, low-carbon growth.

“Agricultural modernization and climate goals can go hand in hand — if we remove barriers to clean energy,” she said. She stressed the importance of financial access, supportive regulations, and targeted capacity building to ensure that MSMEs can support CSA.
Closing the dialogue, Deputy Speaker of Fort Portal City, Tusiime Florence, expressed gratitude to the organizers but raised concerns over the sustainability of such engagements. She urged EfD-Mak and its partners to avoid the common trend of one-off workshops that do not translate into long-term support for local governments.

“Workshops come and go, but no one returns to follow up with our communities,” she said. Tusiime called attention to the overwhelming workload and underfunding of agricultural extension officers, many of whom use their own money and have no transport to reach rural areas. “Our extension workers are overworked and underfunded. They have no motorcycles, no transport,” she said. “Yet they are expected to implement national climate and agricultural goals.”
She called for continued support and follow-through from Makerere University and the EfD-Mak Centre. “When farmers dry maize on bare soil, it’s not ignorance – it’s lack of training and support,” she noted. “If you come back and work with us, we will make CSA work.”
The Fort Portal dialogue highlighted the growing urgency to transition from policy declarations to farmer-level action, as climate shocks continue to impact agricultural livelihoods. While Uganda has made strides in crafting climate and agriculture policies — including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and CSA frameworks — weak operationalization, limited financing, and poor coordination remain major obstacles. Stakeholders agreed that building capacity, particularly among extension workers, remains the single most effective route to scaling climate-smart agriculture and delivering tangible impact where it matters most — at the farm.
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