Agriculture & Environment
Mak Environmental Economists hold Policy Dialogue with Bugiri District Leadership
Environmental economists from the Environment for Development Initiative (EfD-Mak Centre) were on 28th and 29th October 2020 in Bugiri district, Eastern Uganda to dialogue with the local government officials on Lake Victoria’s rising water levels and pollution.
The team led by the Director EfD-Mak Centre Assoc. Prof. Edward Bbaale met with Bugiri district local government officials including the administrative and technical arms at the district headquarters.
Officials met included the Chief Administrative officer (CAO), Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Clerk to Council, Chairperson Local Council V, District speaker, District Police Commander and officers from the Environmental Police Protection Unit. The technical team was largely composed of the District Natural Resources officer, Forestry and Water officers as well as District planners and engineers. The meeting was also attended by representatives from Civil Society organizations (CSOs) and the Private sector.
Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) is a critical trans-boundary natural resource, underpinning the economy and livelihoods of the population, acting as a waste repository and providing food, energy, irrigation, drinking water, tourism and transportation to the surrounding communities and, is the primary modulator of the region’s climate.
Despite its importance, the LVB has undergone intense environmental degradation for decades, resulting in significant ecological and economic challenges. During the period of late January 2020, the effects of Lake Victoria bursting its banks started to be felt with several landing sites and settlements damaged by floods leaving almost half a million people homeless and property worth billions of shillings destroyed in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
The EfD-Mak Centre is mandated to carry out training, research and policy engagement in the realm of environment and natural resources and advise government on the best way the environment can be managed using evidence generated from research.
The university was in Bugiri because of its location and unique features. Bugiri district is located in Busoga Sub-region with a total land area of 1,045.9 km2 (403.8 sqmi). The district is located in a flat and rolling topographical zone with 90% of its landmass constituting the drainage basins of Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga. As a result, there are many swamps that crisscross the district as well as landing sites. The land surface is characterized by gentle undulating hills with few higher residual features. The district has a total of 1562m2 covered by water Wakawaka landing site covering 26,178 m2, Namatu (62,505m2), Rwengemaziriga (30,024m2) and Rwengekarent (26,645m2). The catchment areas have been grossly degraded, forest cover cut and swamps reclaimed.
The objectives of the policy dialogue was to discuss with district officials the status, challenges and to come up with strategies on how to have a nuance existence between the environment and human development.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Bugiri district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Mr. Ezaruku Kazimiro welcomed Mak dons to the district saying, the dialogue had come at a time when the district was experiencing very serious effects of climate change and environmental degradation manifesting with floods that were still continuing. Kazimiro called upon participants to put up some mitigation measures to address these challenges to enhance sustainability in the district and country at large.
The CAO described the policy dialogue as important and, one thatis in line with the National Development Plan III (2020-2025) whose implementation has just started. He said, the NDPIII considers environmental management and climate change very seriously which to some extent must also guide the dialogue.
Mr. Kazimiro said, the NDP III goal under natural resources and climate change sector is to stop and reverse the degradation of water resources, environment, natural resources as well as the effects of climate change on economic growth and people’s livelihoods.
“The key issues or challenges affecting the environment which this country wants to address in this period under NDP III are poor management of water, environment and natural resources coupled with worsening effects of climate change due to high exposure to hazards and disasters, low disaster risk planning, rampant degradation of environment and natural resources, limited access and uptake of meteorological information and poor coordination and institutional capacity”, The CAO said.
The CAO said, there is poor coordination among different institutions, sectors and local government, absence of incentives for good environment practices adding that, there are some key targets which must be achieved under NDP III five years from now.
This according to Mr. Kazimiro include, increasing percentage of land area covered by forests from 9.1% to 15% countrywide, to increase the percentage of the land area covered by wetlands from the current 10.9% to 11.5% within five years among others.
Speaking on behalf of the Resident District Commissioner, Ronald Mukasa expressed the dilemma between environmental conservation and development.
“We have so many activities that are ongoing within our environment. We have timber cutting, we have sand mining in the waters, we have charcoal burning, we have construction ongoing but how really do we protect our environment when development is also going on hand in hand?
We have to sensitize our community and population on how to manage nature while preserving the environment. Our call is to plant more trees as we cut some down and this is the only way we shall maintain the environment and even preserve nature”. He said reiterating the call by the government and the president condemning acts leading to environmental degradation.
The representative of the LC5 Chairperson Mr. Mutamba Musa thanked Makerere University for considering Bugiri for the dialogue. He said forests in Bugiri were getting depleted, water levels rising and many activities taking place in the wetlands.
He told participants that the task ahead of every stakeholder was to ensure that the catchment areas that feed the bigger water bodies are protected. Mr. Mutamba attributed the degradation of the environment and natural resources to inefficiencies in environmental committees and the increasing population pressure.
“I would also love to encourage fellow leaders to also ensure that the environmental committees are made active. It is true we have these committees but they are inactive, so we should ensure that they do what is expected of them.
I also think that as Ugandans we are over producing and as you are aware, the supply of land is inelastic so, people have started encroaching on forests and wetlands for survival. So we should ensure that at least we produce manageable numbers of children to safe guard our environment”. Mr. Mutamba said.
The District Police Commander Mr. Ssebuyungo Geofrey noted that although Uganda has adequate policies on environmental protection and institutions including the Environmental Police Protection Unit, there is lack of support to the enforcement and sometimes environmental protection is taken up by politics.
“We need the independence of the enforcement team when it comes to environmental policies. It is also time that we develop a policy on road reserves, so that we plant trees by liaising with Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) because this is free land”. The DPC proposed.
Ssebuyungo also noted that environmental protection must be perceived and conceptualized in terms of development encompassing many things like empowering people to fight poverty.
He said, besides helping ordinary people to use the environment to make money, there is need to think of a policy for all Bibanja owners to plant trees along their boundaries and encouraging all people to have tree projects that can earn them big sums of money in future.
The Clerk to Council Mr. Nandhbu Joshua said Bugiri is one of the worst affected districts with the changing environment especially the rising or changing levels of Lake Victoria.
“We have a landing site called Wakawaka, it has displaced a multitude of homes, people are now moving around but as government we embarked ourselves on constitutionalism. The Minister of Environment wrote to clerk directing that all people who are around the affected area vacate”. He said adding that people who were instructed to leave the landing site were stuck and have nowhere to go.
In her Keynote address, the Senior Environmental officer Bugiri district Ms. Kauma Benadet who is also the Ag. Natural Resources officer reported that the district is faced with anumber of challenges regarding environmental management including the rising water levels, sedimentation due to encroachment of the buffer zone, increasing water pollution and declining fish stocks.
The environmental officer reported that in March 2020, a number of people were displaced by the rising water levels on L. Victoria and they have not been resettled to date, leading to the decline of many economic activities.
“The increasing pollution of water is due to lack of sanitary facilities. We have over one thousand people along the shore, most of these are living close to within 200m of the lake and this has led to a lot of pollution. We only have one pit latrine that was provided by the district which cannot serve this whole community and so, the only alternative is the water source, Lake Victoria”. She stated.
Ms. Kauma said the district was grappling with issues of sedimentation as a result of waste disposal because the catchment, the wetlands have been silted and most of this silt ends up in the lake. She added that most of the people around the shore line have migrated from the village because they don’t have land, so they end up even cultivating the small area on the buffer zone hence increasing the silt in the lake.
The Environmental officer attributed all the environmental issues in the district to the increasing poverty levels and the declining economic activities.
“Most of the people who destroy our environment are below the poverty line and the only thing they can resort to for a living are the natural resources. That’s why you see most of our forests are disappearing because of charcoal burning and the demand of fuel wood. We see the way swamps are disappearing because people have to cultivate rice to earn money to take their children to school, to get the necessary medical services”, Ms. Kauma stated.
She however said, the district was partnering with development partners like the World Vision and Red Cross Society that have provided resources to mitigate the challenges.
Ms. Kauma also expressed gratitude to the government for increasing the budget for natural resources management in the district.
“We now have a running budget of 35 million shillings of which about 10 million shillings is for enforcement. So, on issues leading to pollution of the lake, sedimentation and the like, we are going to ensure that we enforce because we have regional officers in the management of environment. We shall always be calling them on board so that we can force the implementation of the 200m buffer zone.” Ms. Kauma stated.
The Director EfD-Mak Centre Prof. Edward Bbaale explained that the bursting of the lake banks is just an effect of the degradation of environment more especially the catchment areas.
“The forests have been cleared, the swamps have been cleared and as a result, erosion of all the debris with all the materials, metals, sediments end up directly in the lake.
The lake is very shallow with an average depth of 40m and the highest being 80m and once degradation goes on for many years as of now, time comes when the lake is over whelmed and as I speak now the lake is over whelmed. It is saturated no wonder it has burst its banks leading to all sorts of issues”. Prof. Bbaale said.
The Director said Lake Victoria is a trans boundary natural resource not only in Uganda but touches other East African countries where part of the solution lies in a consensus and joint efforts where governments must work towards a common goal.
As for Uganda, the professor observed that there is no need for new regulations because the government is already committed to institutions.
“Government has established a number of institutions and frameworks that are intended to protect the natural resources and environment. From parliament for example, we have a Parliamentary Committee in charge of natural resources and environment. We have the Ministry of Water and Environment, we have NEMA, and others and the government has worked together with civil society to protect the environment.
What we need to do is to implement and remove the weaknesses in the implementation of regulations that are here. The weak enforcements should be worked on or revised as a mechanism of achieving favorable environmental and natural resource outcomes”, He explained
Prof. Bbaale said as university researchers, they have a role to play because the population needs alternatives and these alternatives must come from new knowledge generated from research for instance on green energy or clean energy that can be used other than cutting forests or making charcoal.
The Centre Director expressed the university’s commitment to conducting research in the new alternatives as far as energy and agriculture are concerned noting that Agriculture is one of the culprits leading to degradation.
“The type of agriculture being practiced is not smart agriculture. This is the type of agriculture where even the productivity is so low, output per person is so low to the extent that if someone wants to harvest a lot, he needs a very big chunk of land.
But now, there should be research in the new agronomical practices that can ensure the highest yields even on a very small piece of land. You don’t need to clear a forest to have great alternative from your agriculture. You just need to undertake smart agriculture, you just need to work on agricultural productivity as a mechanism of protecting the environment”, He said.
Report compiled by: Jane Anyango, Principal Communication Officer, CAES
Agriculture & Environment
PhD Scholarship Announcement (1 Position): Sustainable Energy Transitions in EA
The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) proudly presented 562 students for the award of degrees and diplomas at the 75th Graduation Ceremony of Makerere University. Among the 562 graduates, 19 earned PhDs, 97 received Master’s degrees, 11 were awarded postgraduate diplomas, and 435 graduated with Bachelor’s degrees.
CAES PhD Graduates
The PhD graduates from CAES included Dr Achola Esther, Dr Akecha Tobby, Dr Baguma Karubanga Julius, Dr Birungi Pauline, Dr Burungi Rosemirta, Dr Fentaw Abate Asmamaw, Dr Habtemariam Assefa, and Dr Idd Ramathani. Others were: Dr Mukama Massa Henry, Dr Mbaziira James, Dr Mugisa Immaculate, Dr Musoke Charles, Dr Nabasumba Sylvia, Dr Nalubwama Sylvia, Dr Nansereko Sophie, Dr Ochen Morris, Dr Odoi Juventine Boaz, Dr Sseremba Emmanuel Owen, and Dr Twase Ismail.
Makerere University Graduation Highlights
A total of 13,662 students received degrees and diplomas of Makerere University at the 75th graduation ceremony held on 13th-17 January 2025. Of these, 143 graduated with PhDs, 1,813 with Masters degrees, 11,454 with Bachelor’s degrees, and 243 with postgraduate diplomas. 53% of the graduates were female and 47% were male. Notably, 44% of the PhD graduates were female underscoring the growing involvement of women in high-level academic research. 16% of the students graduated with post-graduate degrees and diplomas. A total of 491 students graduated with first class degrees.
CAES Graduation Ceremony
The CAES students, along with their peers from the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), graduated on the final day of the ceremony, Friday, 17th January 2025.
Chancellor’s Remarks
During the ceremony, Makerere University Chancellor, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, congratulated the graduates upon the achievement. He extended his gratitude to the faculty, administrators, parents, and guardians for their continuous support throughout the students’ academic journeys.
In his address, Dr. Kiyonga highlighted the immense potential of Uganda’s agricultural sector, advocating for increased collaboration between the university, and medium- to large-scale farmers, as well as local communities to further improve the sector. “Such partnerships could provide students with hands-on experience while supporting the growth of Uganda’s agricultural economy,” he noted. He called for stronger collaborations with the private sector to commercialize innovations emerging from the University.
In line with the President’s directive, Dr. Kiyonga underscored the importance of integrating Political Economy into the university curricula. He stressed that this knowledge is essential for the strategic utilization of Africa’s resources and the continent’s economic transformation.
Vice Chancellor’s Remarks
In his address, Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, equally congratulated the graduates and acknowledged the contribution of the teaching staff, administrators, the families, and guardians of the students. Prof. Nawangwe congratulated Dr. Kiyonga upon his appointment indicating that his wealth of experience would be invaluable to the university’s future development.
Highlighting the achievements registered in the past year, Prof. Nawangwe praised the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for its outstanding research output, which has immensely contributed to the development of Uganda’s agricultural sector. “The College continues to be one of our flag bearers in research. In 2024, the College continued to lead vital initiatives focused on driving sustainable change in Africa’s agricultural and environmental sectors, particularly addressing the challenges of climate change and the need for inclusive sustainable agri-food systems,” he noted. Key of the initiatives and projects undertaken by the College included:
- Makerere University-IOWA State University Community Transformative Initiatives: This project has positively impacted communities in Kamuli District, enhancing livelihoods through programs in agriculture, education, nutrition, and environmental conservation.
- Building Capacity for Climate-Resilient Food Systems in Africa (CaReFoAfrica): A three-year academic mobility scheme co-funded by the EU, aimed at addressing agricultural sector challenges by enhancing human capacity in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Agroforestry for People, Ecosystems, and Climate Change (AfPEC): Funded by DANIDA, this project promotes agroforestry practices to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change in the disaster-prone Mt. Elgon region.
- FoodLAND Project: Funded by the European Commission under Horizon 2020, this initiative seeks to develop innovative, scalable, and sustainable technologies to improve the nutrition performance of Africa’s local food systems.
- Centre for Tourism Development: In collaboration with the University of Oregon and Penn State University, CAES has embarked on developing a centre dedicated to addressing tourism challenges, including wildlife-community conflicts near game reserves.
Research excellence and Teacher Recognition
During the 75th graduation ceremony, Makerere University recognized the best researchers and teachers from each of the 10 Colleges. CAES produced the overall best teachers of the year at Makerere University namely: Dr Steven Lwasa (Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics), Dr Patrick Musinguzi (Department of Agricultural Production) and Dr Joshua Wanyama (Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering). The Senior Researcher Award was presented to Prof. Richard Edema (Department of Agricultural Production), Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze (Department of Geography, Geo-Informatics and Climatic Sciences), Assoc. Prof. Anthony Egeru (Department of Environmental Management), and Assoc. Prof. Isa Kabenge (Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering). The Mid-Career Researcher Award went to Dr Robert Mugabi (Department of Food Technology and Nutrition), Dr Dramadri Isaac (Department of Agricultural Production), Dr Joshua Wanyama (Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering), and Dr Ephraim Nuwamanya (Department of Agricultural Production). Dr Erion Bwambale (Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering), Dr Denis Nsubuga (Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering), and Dr Robert Asiimwe (Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics) were recognized as the best Early Career Researchers.
75th Graduation CAES Pictorial
Agriculture & Environment
Makerere Hosts Climate Adaptation workshop: Calls for Action to Mitigate Climate Change Threats to Agricultural Sector
Kampala, 19th December 2024: The Department of Geography, Geo-informatics, and Climatic Sciences at Makerere University, in collaboration with the Department of Geography at Kyambogo University, held a workshop to disseminate research findings from three climate adaptation and mitigation projects funded by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), RAINCA, WASCAL, Akademiya2063, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York under the CECAP Program.
The workshop, which took place on 19th December 2024, at the GIS Lab of Makerere University, focused on three key projects: Land Use Management & Artificial Intelligence for Crop Production, Land Use & Carbon Stocks, and Adaptation to Climate Change Induced Vulnerability. The goal of the workshop was to engage in-country stakeholders on interpreting the research findings and strategically applying them to mitigate the impact of climate change on Uganda’s agricultural sector across various agro-ecosystems and agro-ecological zones. Recommendations were drawn up in the form of policy briefs to guide climate adaptation efforts.
While officially opening the workshop the Dean of the School of Forestry, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences (SFEGS), Dr. Revocatus Twinomuhangi, extended a warm welcome to participants at the workshop, where he also delivered both the opening and closing remarks. In his address, Dr. Twinomuhangi commended the study’s Principal Investigator (PI) for successfully implementing the project and enhancing Makerere University‘s reputation. He expressed gratitude to the project’s partners for their collaborative efforts, as well as to the department for fostering an enabling environment for the research. Additionally, Dr. Twinomuhangi acknowledged the support of funders such as DGRT, whose contributions made the project possible.
The Dean thanked all the participants for their attendance, emphasizing the importance of continuing the work initiated by the project. He expressed optimism that the research would lead to publications in high-impact journals and be effectively packaged for policy and decision-making. As the workshop concluded, Dr. Twinomuhangi offered his well wishes for safe travels, a restful holiday, and a Merry Christmas, with hopes for a prosperous 2025.
Project PI Dr. Catherine Mulinde on Purpose of the Workshop:
Dr. Catherine Mulinde, Principal Investigator of the climate adaptation projects, addressed the workshop participants, outlining the purpose of the event. She emphasized that the workshop brings together three collaborative projects aimed at addressing climate change impacts on Uganda’s agricultural sector, with the involvement of Makerere University, Kyambogo University, and several funding institutions.
“The workshop encompasses three projects in one, and it’s a collaboration among the team members, the universities, and the donors,” Dr. Mulinde explained. She detailed the three projects, beginning with the Land Use Management and Artificial Intelligence for Crop Production project. This initiative focuses on modeling land productivity and management practices using artificial intelligence, supported by RUFORUM and the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Network on Climate Action in Africa (RAINCA), with funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The second project, Land Use and Carbon Stocks, examines carbon sequestration practices in various districts, including Mbale, Serere, Nakapiripiri, and Palisa, and is also supported by RUFORUM and IDRC. The third project, led by Dr. Mulinde, explores adaptation strategies for regions severely impacted by climate change, covering a broader range of areas including Mbale, Kapchorwa, Bulambuli, Luwero, Nakaseke, and Nakasongola.
Dr. Mulinde emphasized that the workshop aims to share key findings from these projects and engage stakeholders in validating and interpreting the results. “We don’t want to leave the results on the desks,” she stressed. “We want to make sure that these findings are shared with the people who can act on them in the communities.” A key goal of the workshop was to develop actionable policy recommendations, with input from local stakeholders who understand the practical aspects of implementing solutions. “You know the ‘how’ and the ‘what’ and you know where the resources are,” Dr. Mulinde said. “We want to develop recommendations that are not just theoretical, but truly implementable.”
Dr. Mulinde also acknowledged the challenge of translating complex scientific concepts like artificial intelligence into locally understood terms, highlighting the importance of making the research accessible to the community. “It’s one of the challenges in academia—translating science into language that our local communities can understand,” she noted.
She concluded with an invitation to stakeholders to provide feedback on the research findings and contribute to the development of policy briefs. These documents will be used to drive climate adaptation efforts at the local level, ensuring that the research can have a lasting impact on Uganda’s agricultural resilience in the face of climate change. “By the end of the day, we expect to validate the results, address divergences, and develop policy briefs that can be shared back with your communities for further action,” Dr. Mulinde concluded.
Uganda, ranked as the 49th least ready country in terms of climate change adaptation
Uganda, ranked as the 49th least ready country in terms of climate change adaptation, faces immense challenges in securing its agricultural sector from the impacts of climate change. MAAIF Commissioner Freddie Kabango, who was present at the workshop, emphasized the pivotal role agriculture plays in Uganda’s economy, livelihoods, and national GDP. He stated, “Agriculture is at the center of Uganda’s climate change discussions because it directly impacts the livelihoods of many Ugandans. With agriculture heavily dependent on natural resources, it is highly vulnerable to climate change.”
In his presentation, Commissioner Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Freddie Kabango discussed the diverse impacts of climate change on Uganda’s agricultural sub-sectors—crop production, livestock, and fisheries. He outlined how climate variability, manifested in extreme droughts, floods, and landslides, has already led to reduced productivity, crop destruction, and livestock losses. He further highlighted the critical importance of adaptation strategies in response to these challenges.
“Uganda is experiencing climate change variability, which is evident in extreme weather patterns. Our agriculture sector, which is primarily rain-fed, is one of the most vulnerable to these changes,” Kabango added. “Climate adaptation is crucial, and we need to protect our natural resources to secure the future of agriculture.”
The workshop also featured a series of discussions on the strategies Uganda is pursuing to enhance climate resilience, including research and development, sustainable land management practices, and the promotion of climate-smart agricultural technologies. Kabango mentioned initiatives such as solar-powered irrigation systems and breeding for pest and disease-tolerant varieties to help mitigate the effects of climate change.
Despite Uganda’s low ranking in climate adaptation, Kabango expressed optimism that through research, policy development, and collaborative efforts, the country could strengthen its climate resilience. “While we are currently ranked as the 49th least ready country in adaptation, we are not without solutions. We are committed to increasing research and development efforts to improve the country’s preparedness,” he said.
RUFORUM Representative Hails Student AI Innovations in Predicting Crop Yields and Livestock Carbon Emissions
RUFORUM Representative Mr. Yamungu Alongo Boniface highlighted the innovative contributions of AI to climate action during his remarks at the workshop. He began by introducing RUFORUM (Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture), a network of 180 universities in 40 African countries, with its headquarters based in Makerere University, Uganda. “RUFORUM started as a project funded by the Rockefeller Foundation,” he explained, recounting how it began with just 10 universities in five African countries and has since expanded significantly. “Uganda, and particularly Makerere University, has benefited greatly from the network’s growth, with many funding opportunities directed here,” he noted.
The evolution of RUFORUM was discussed, with Mr. Alongo explaining that in 2004, following the end of the Rockefeller Foundation-funded Forum for Agriculture project, the network formalized its mission as the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture. “From 10 founding universities, we now have 180 universities, covering all regions of Africa,” he shared. This growth has allowed for collaboration on numerous research projects, such as the AI for Climate Action initiative.
He described the partnership among RUFORUM, WASCAL, and Academia 2063, which secured funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to launch a research hub focused on artificial intelligence for climate action. “Makerere University applied for several grants, and though they were eligible for four, only two were granted to ensure broader continental representation,” Mr. Alongo explained.
In addition to the IDRC funding, Mr. Alongo noted that RUFORUM has been involved in other projects under the Global Research Alliance (GRA), funded by the government of New Zealand, which focuses on climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and related research. “Prof. Mkwaya and other departments at Makerere, as well as universities in Kenya and Tanzania, have also benefited from GRA funding,” he said.
Highlighting the impact of the AI projects, Mr. Alongo celebrated the success of a student who developed a crop yield prediction model that outperformed international systems. “The model was more accurate than even DISSAT, a widely recognized tool for agro-technology transfer,” he pointed out. In livestock, students developed amodel which can launch a drone to count animals and the amount of carbon stocks emitted by the animals. He stressed the importance of sharing such findings with local communities and policymakers to ensure the research is implemented effectively. “We need to make sure our findings are used by those who can take action—farmers, policymakers, and ministries,” he said.
Mr. Alongo concluded with a call to action for further collaboration. “We need to mobilize resources to bring these innovations to the field and ensure they are implemented for sustainable change,” he urged. “This workshop is just the beginning, and we must work together to make a real difference.” He also passed greetings from RUFORUM’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Patrick Okori, emphasizing his support for the project and the ongoing efforts to disseminate the findings.
Key Insights and Policy Recommendations
The workshop brought together members of academia, policy makers from government ministries and agencies and representatives from research implementing districts. Participants delved into key issues affecting the region, offering insights and recommendations that could shape future policies and research in environmental management.
Group I: Land Use and Cover
One of the major discussions in the first group focused on the changing land use patterns and their impacts on soil fertility. As communities in the region expand their agricultural activities, they face the challenge of soil degradation, which reduces crop yields. Experts emphasized the need for sustainable land management (SLM) practices to restore soil fertility and boost agricultural productivity. Agroforestry, particularly in lowland areas, was identified as a key solution, alongside wetland restoration, which has been proven to store more carbon.
Participants also suggested that promoting plant diversity in agricultural areas could help increase carbon stocks. This would contribute to the region’s efforts to combat climate change and improve environmental resilience.
Policy recommendations from the group included prioritizing wetland restoration, promoting afforestation and forestation efforts, and enforcing stricter water management regulations. They also stressed the importance of effective urban planning and the establishment of disaster management committees at the local level to respond to climate-related challenges. Additionally, there was a call to compensate district extension workers for their role in promoting sustainable land practices.
Research topics highlighted for future manuscripts included environmental pollution, carbon stock modeling, the impacts of gender on land use and carbon stocks, and the relationship between migration, land use, and carbon storage.
Group II: Adaptation to Climate Change and Vulnerability
The second group focused on the vulnerability of communities to climate change and the need for effective adaptation strategies. A key takeaway was the importance of promoting climate-smart agriculture across all sectors, ensuring that agricultural practices are both sustainable and resilient to climate impacts. The group also called for the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation into all sector work plans and budgets, urging governments to operationalize existing policies, which have often remained underutilized.
Community sensitization was identified as a major challenge, with many local stakeholders unaware of existing climate change policies. The group recommended that efforts be made to build the capacity of both policy implementers and communities to ensure that adaptation strategies are understood and implemented effectively. Affirmative action for the most vulnerable groups, including women, the elderly, and children, was also proposed to ensure that their specific needs are addressed in climate policies.
The group identified five key areas where local governments can influence policy design and implementation. These include promoting multi-stakeholder engagement, basing policies on evidence-driven research, integrating new technologies like AI into policy frameworks, and ensuring gender responsiveness and social inclusivity in national adaptation policies.
Group III: Land Management and Agricultural Practices
The third group discussed land management practices and the potential of technology to improve agricultural productivity. The group stressed the need for region-specific land management approaches, tailored to the unique challenges of different areas. They also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing decision-making processes, particularly in precision agriculture and irrigation management. AI can provide more accurate data and predictions, helping farmers make informed decisions and optimize resource use.
Another key message was the importance of education and knowledge sharing to improve the implementation of sustainable land management practices. Participants noted that many farmers lack access to essential information, which hinders their ability to adopt better practices. Ensuring that agricultural extension services are equipped with the knowledge and tools to train farmers in new technologies was seen as a crucial step toward improving productivity.
Policy recommendations from this group included enhancing the existing National Agriculture Adaptation Plans (NAPAs) to make them more region-specific and improving the integration of AI into agricultural extension services. There was also a call for the establishment of a national agriculture data infrastructure policy to support real-time data collection and forecasting, which would enable better agricultural planning and response.
Moving forward, the workshop concluded with a call to action for stakeholders to work together to implement the recommendations discussed. The importance of evidence-based policies, the integration of new technologies like AI, and the prioritization of vulnerable communities were central themes throughout the discussions. As Makerere University continues to play a critical role in addressing climate change and land management issues, the insights gained from this workshop will undoubtedly contribute to the development of more effective and sustainable policies for the future.
About the three Research projects
Dr. Catherine Mulinde presented three important research projects focused on addressing climate change, land use management, and agricultural productivity in Uganda.
Project 1: Carbon Stocks and Climate Change The first project, titled Effect of Changes in Land Use, Cover, and Climate on Carbon Stocks in Selected Agricultural Zones of Uganda, was led by Dr. Paul Isolo Mukwaya, with Dr. Catherine Mulinde and Dr. Geoffrey Gabiri collaborating from Makerere and Kyambogo Universities, respectively. The project’s primary objective was to assess carbon stocks in vegetation and soils in two agroecological zones, Nakapiripirit and Manafwa in Mount Elgon. The team focused on evaluating soil carbon fluxes, the impact of land cover and climate change, and the heterogeneity of environmental factors on carbon levels. Additionally, they projected future changes in carbon stocks and land use scenarios. The research team included students Elizabeth Ahumuza and Vincent Wabwire, who explored the relationship between land use, soil carbon, and meteorological drought in Karamoja. The findings from this project were shared with the community and presented at international platforms.
Project 2: Responsible AI for Agricultural Productivity The second project focused on the application of responsible artificial intelligence (AI) in modeling land productivity and crop yields in the face of changing climate and land use. Led by Dr. Mulinde, Dr. Paul Mukwaya, and Dr. Geoffrey Gabiri, the project aimed to explore how AI can assist smallholder farmers who are struggling with decreasing yields due to climate change. The project was conducted in the Lake Kyoga Basin, covering both the highlands (Mbale) and lowlands (Pallisa). The team used machine learning to quantify the relationship between climate change, land management practices, and crop yields, offering insights into how farmers can improve productivity. The project’s students, Irene Nekesa (Kyambogo University) and Kisakye Angela, conducted household interviews and community outreach, presenting findings at international forums, including the RUFORUM conference in Namibia. Angela’s poster was awarded the best presentation at the conference. The project highlighted the need for greater awareness and knowledge of AI in agricultural communities, as many local stakeholders struggled to interpret its potential.
Project 3: Climate Change Adaptation in Coffee Farming Systems The third project was a postdoctoral research initiative supported by Makerere University‘s Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, focused on adaptation to climate change-induced vulnerability in coffee farming systems. Dr. Mulinde was the principal investigator, with Associate Professor Revocatus Twinomuhangi serving as the research mentor. This study, part of the CECAP program funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, aimed to identify the most effective adaptation practices to improve household welfare and agricultural productivity in coffee farming. The research focused on Arabica coffee in the Mount Elgon region (Kapchorwa, Bulambuli, Mbale) and Robusta coffee in the central region (Luwero, Nakaseke, Nakasongola). It identified agroforestry, soil conservation methods, and the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers as effective practices for increasing productivity. The findings were disseminated at both community and international levels, with a focus on cross-sectional surveys, farmer interviews, and data analysis. Amina Twaha, and Margaret Annet Nabirye masters student, contributed significantly to the study by examining household vulnerability to climate shocks.
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