Agriculture & Environment
SDSN Uganda Network Launched at Mak
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Uganda Network has been launched at Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). The Network was launched virtually on 21st April, 2021 under the theme, “Unlocking the potential of Universities and other non-state actors to foster achievement of SDGs”.
The network is hosted by the Makerere University Centre for Climate Change Research and Innovations (MUCCRI) coordinated by Dr. Revocatus Twinomuhangi from the Department of Geography, Geo informatics and Climatic Sciences.
The workshop held online was attended by over 60 participants comprising state and non-state actors (representatives of government sectors, members of the academia, the private sector, civil society organizations and international development partners) among others.
The e-conference was graced by the President UN SDSN Prof. Jeffrey Sachs who delivered the keynote address, the Vice President SDSN Maria Cortes Puch, the Senior Technical Advisor SDGs Secretariat Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Dr. Albert Byamugisha and the Country Director Cities Alliance Uganda Samuel Mabala .
The conference was also attended by Makerere University’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe who officially closed the ceremony, the Principal CAES represented by his deputy Assoc. Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga who officially welcomed and opened the conference and senior members of staff including the network champion and Makerere University’s long serving Professor Elly N. Sabiiti.
Other dignitaries included representatives from Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Gulu University, Ndejje University, Kyambogo University and the youth wing of the SDSN.
In his keynote address, Prof. Jeffrey Sachs thanked Makerere University leadership for hosting the network and senior government officials represented by the Office of the Prime Minister for the emphasis on how the SDGs were being integrated into the country’s development and vision.
Prof. Jeffrey Sachs is a University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University. He is a commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Development. Sachs has been advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General, and currently serves as an SDG Advocate under Secretary- General António Guterres. Sachs was twice named among Time magazine’s 100 most influential world leaders and was ranked by The Economist among the top three most influential living economists.
Prof. Jeffrey highlights universal access to education, digital services, electrification as Uganda’s major development challenges casting doubt on oil and gas prospects.
Prof. Jeffrey pledged that the network was ready to work with and help government of Uganda to work on the development challenges being faced to accelerate progress in achieving the SDGs.
“Uganda as country faces many development challenges and opportunities and we would like to brainstorm with you, strategies with you in government and academic sector and in the specific communities and find ways to accelerate the progress”. the President stated
Prof. Jeffrey explained that SDGS are an important reference point to understand where the big gaps in development occur and therefore directs where the mobilization of energy and resources, creativity and strategy should be applied.
Prof. Jeffrey told participants that looking at the situation in Uganda, there clearly three important development priorities that the network would like Uganda to address. These he said include ;1)Universal access to quality, education; 2)universal access to digital wireless services, applications and tools;3)Universal access to electricity and/or renewable energy sources.
He said universal access to quality education is the single most important aspect of life that can lead to the transformation of live hoods and the different sectors of the economy.
The other most important aspect for government according to Prof. Jeff is to expand access to digital services on grounds that the use of broadband is limited by internet levels; People do not have access to digital tools or internet connectivity.
“The digital technologies are the most important tool that the country like Uganda has to accelerate achievement of the SDGs. Imagine in Uganda if every person had access to quality internet then, we could expand online education, telemedicine, government services, technical training, e-payment services and we could expand environmental management and supervision, .
So I believe that in addition to universal education, we should be aiming at very rapidly for universal digital services including appliances and tools that are needed to use the services”, Prof. Jeff advised.
Noting that there are significant financial constraints, Prof. Jeff expressed the need to think about how development financing can help the Government of Uganda to mobilize resources, and how the private sector, international companies can help to mobilize investments needed to achieve these two goals.
“If we could achieve universal access to Digital services, it will be easier to achieve SDG3 which is universal health coverage because there is twenty years of experience of using telemedicine as a powerful way to expand access to health care.
Now, it is possible to dial patients from a distance, to read x-rays from a distance , to manage symptoms from a distance and if we use the digital platform, we can tremendously expend medicine and health care as well”, The UN SDSN President justified.
The third biggest development challenge for Uganda according to Prof. Jeffrey Sash is that of electrification because electricity is needed in the villages and in cities in order to power the digital networks and appliances.
“And still far too few households and villages have access to electricity services and this raises a question of renewable energy in Uganda. There is a tremendous potential for solar power as an instrument of mass electrification and micro grids and mini grid and even national grid approach through solar power.
This scenario I believe also with financing can make a huge big difference. Households can pay for energy services but not the upfront investment costs for solar panels and wiring and system but can pay overtime to cover the cost of electricity services”, the keynote speaker advised.
He reported that SDSN has developed such micro grid approaches in some parts of Uganda to show that it is possible to have commercial enterprises using a micro grid approach which should be tremendously expanded.
Prof. Jeffrey further raised questions about energy strategy in Uganda, aware that there are major plans and high prospects on the development of the oil sector in Uganda.
Jeffrey said he was rather doubtful about this because it seems to be running against the global trend which is to end the use of oil, coal and natural gas not to expand use of oil, coal and natural gas. He added that this is something that can be analyzed and studied by members of the academia and other stakeholders because it is important for other reasons as well.
“I know there are high hopes for developing Uganda as an oil exporting country but, I am a little skeptical and I have to say this with friends because the expenses will be very high. Petroleum is very waxy and expensive to transmit.
The pipeline goes to many ecological-sensitive regions and villages. The dangers of oil spills are very high and it would be good for Uganda to look ahead to 20 years. I am raising this because I believe in renewable energy and distributed solar power much more than the big oil and gas pipe lines especially because the world is moving to electric vehicles and renewable energy. So this project to me seems to be running against the direction of the global market and the country may become stranded in the future in the development opportunity”, The professor explained.
Prof. Jeff described Uganda as an absolutely beautiful country with wonderful ecosystems and biodiversity saying, the UN SDSN treasures the beauty of Uganda and entire ecosystem and the rich biodiversity which is a good resource for the country and a great resource for tourism.
He however said, this natural endowments need to be taken with very good and great care. He reasoned that all the ecosystem of Uganda is under a lot of pressure and this is the major focus of SDG 14 and 15- The stewardship and protection of the ecosystem.
“Uganda’s population has been growing very fast at about now 45 million people compared to 5 million in 1950, an increase of almost 10 times. As the population continues to grow rapidly, the pressure on ecosystem continues to be great and these projects like the Oil and gas pipelines are also a threat to the ecosystem.
Uganda depends on help and cultivation of its remarkable beautiful ecosystems and its endangered species. So, I would hope that the SDGS also will be an important opportunity to redouble the protection and support of Uganda’s ecosystem and to focus on the kinds of projects that preserve the beauty of your country to avoid ecological dangers”. Prof. Jeffrey explained
Demographically, Prof. Jeffrey observed that there will be a shift from the rural areas increasingly to the urban areas and this poses more challenges because of the costs involved like infrastructure, sanitation, transport, power system, the health care system and education are all major costs meaning, the whole transformation embedded in SDG 11 are also a huge challenge.
He said the biggest problem with everything talked about is the requirement of a lot of investments whether in education, health care, digital, energy etc costs money, the money beyond what is available in the national budget.
“ I am very much aware of that and I believe that we should hold strong to the goals and your friends and partners in the UN, international agencies, AfDB , UNCA and other partners should be working together with you to identify how to close financing gap rather than saying we will be without electricity and schools.
I hope Uganda says, no, we must have schools, we must have rural electrification and it is your job as partners to identify financing gaps to help us to do so and this is the spirit and purpose of the SDGs to mobilize partners to get this done”, Prof. Jeffrey advised.
He expressed excitement over the launch of SDSN Uganda and gratified Makerere University for taking up this great role and pledged to work with the university and government to help solve these problems with the speed and urgency they deserve to give Ugandans the future they need and deserve.
The Vice President for SDSN Networks Maria Cortes Puch on Global SDSN programs
The Vice President for SDSN Networks Maria Cortes Puch thanked Makerere University for hosting the network and the efforts put in to organize the launch.
“We appreciate the great work that Makerere has been doing in the past years. SDSN Uganda was scheduled for a launch last year but the plan was cancelled due to the COVID-19. In the meantime, SDSN Uganda has managed to set up a number of priorities to work on which takes some years.
SDSN Uganda has already established a collaborative relationship with government through the OPM and has advised the UN resident coordinator office and UNDP on defining the UN sustainable development cooperation framework in Uganda for the next four years. We can’t call this network a baby anymore, it is already a standing up child and we are really eager to see what comes next”, Maria Cortes said.
She said SDSN was launched in 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary General to mobilize scientific and technical expertise from academia, civil society, and the private sector to be part of the debate to diagnose development challenges in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to come up with complex solutions that would incorporate different sections of society.
“Since then, SDSN has been mobilizing academia around the world. We currently have more than 1400 member institutions around the world of which about 75% are universities and the rest are research centers, think tanks or knowledge producing NGOs. We organize our members through our national and regional networks hosted by one or two universities that convene universities in that country in support of the SDGs” She said.
She explained that the SDSN has four priorities:-One is to localize SDGS, by working and bringing together governments, different sectors ,national statistical offices, unions, NGOs, civil society, private sector and universities in workshops to discuss different strategies for SDGS, what the SDGs means for a country or region, challenges unique to individual countries and key opportunities gathered to assess whether the right progress is being made in the achievement of the SDGs.
SDSN also focuses on high quality education for sustainable development for instance a number of programmes on sustainable development, executive training with the private sector including thinking through how the curriculum is developed to ensure that everyone coming out university knows the basic principles of sustainable development irrespective of specialties.
The Vice President also said SDSN also works on sustainable solution initiatives with private sector and different levels of government and are practical solutions that are very specific and unique problems. The networks she said conduct long term path ways for sustainable development, a very technical exercises modelling whether or not the goals are possible to achieve with specific avenues and trajectories to achieve those goals in the country.
She added that sustainable solutions initiative is a technical exercise in a highly interactive process to make sure that the model puts into consideration the realities of the country that ensures no vulnerable group is left behind which creates census in society
“We have 41 networks now that cover 120 different countries around the world. One of the great thing about our networks is that they help one another. So the SDSN Uganda will be working closely with SDSN Canada and SDSN Japan and will be learning from each other and sharing projects and opportunities.”, she said.
She reported that in September 2020, a new guide for accelerating education for SDSN in universities was launched. Currently, she said an open call for case studies is open and in case any university is using innovative method of teaching SDGs or mainstreaming SDGs, SDSN would want to hear about it by visiting the SDSN website and submitting the Case study.
Uganda has made progress on all SDGs, is more than 50% of the way towards achieving SDGs by 2030, ranked 18th position out of 52 African countries with overall score of 58.8
Senior Technical Advisor SDGs Secretariat, office of the Prime Minister Uganda Dr. Albert Byamugisha
Senior Technical Advisor SDGs Secretariat, Office of the Prime Minister Uganda Dr. Albert Byamugisha thanked the organizers for inviting the Office of the Prime Minister to participate and speak at the launch of the SDSN Network Uganda.
While speaking on the Snapshot of Uganda’s journey, Sustainable Development coordination framework, and the integration of SDGs in Uganda’s development and vision process, Dr. Byamugisha said, Uganda was has made progress on all SDGs.
Dr. Byamugisha said the SDGs were endorsed in 2015 and adopted in 2016 and during that time, Uganda was the front runner because it helped the presidency of the General assembly at the time, and Uganda prepared the first national voluntary report 2016 which indicated that out of the 169 targets, Uganda had covered 70% in the NDP II.
He said, Uganda has a dedicated Minister in charge of SDGs and recently last year, Uganda prepared the second voluntary national report. Organizationally, he said government has developed a coordination framework to implement SDGs and a roadmap to operationalize SDGS developed in 2018 cooperating with different stakeholders to make sure that no one is left behind. Dr. Byamugisha reported that recently an MoU was signed with CSOs. “ In 2016 we developed a frame work which is fully functional in the office of the Prime Minister which was sent to the Minister of General Duties who is in charge of SDGs.
The SDG secretariat has been established with full support of development partners especially the Subsystem to support the coordination function and all level technical groups functioning progressively to address different aspects of the SDGs.
The framework has been operationalize through the roadmap which was established in 2018 and aligned with NDP II and now that of NDP III.”, Dr Byamugisha explained.
Dr. Byamugisha said there is a national coordination framework which is used in the implementation of SDGs. The first one is the policy coordination committee, chaired by the Prime Minister and members include cabinet ministers, heads of cooperation’s and agencies. Then, the implementation steering committee chaired by the head of public service and membership include all permanent secretaries, heads of missions, cooperation and agencies.
The other coordination framework according to Dr. Byamugisha is the national SDG task force chaired by the permanent secretary OPM and attended by chairpersons of the five technical working groups namely monitoring evaluation and reporting on SDGs chaired by the OPM, planning and administration chaired by national planning authority, resource and resource mobilization technical working group chaired by Minister of finance , data aspects chaired by Uganda Bureau of statistics and communication and mobilization of technical working groups to support development goals
“SDSN was looking for collaboration with SDG Secretariat OPM and I can tell you right away that you are most welcome and you will be participating in those working groups. We have the Minister for SDGs, with the secretariat with roles and responsibilities but most importantly steering the coordination of SDGs”, he said.
Dr. Byamugisha explained that the national planning frameworks are very accommodative of the 2030 agenda and the government of Uganda is well positioned to achieve its ambition to achieve the 2040 vision and establish a planning framework which is also to deliver national development plans.
He stated that Uganda has a National Development Plan for five years which promises to increase the average household incomes and improve quality of life and effectively deliver the national vision.
The NPDIII according to Dr. Byamugisha in part emphasizes the need to identify and utilize and integrate innovative financing options with the public and private sector and also identify development opportunities which include advancing mechanisms for fully aligning a planned budget, reporting frameworks and strengthen public investment management.
He said, Government of Uganda has demonstrated commitment to align financing to development citing that government issued the certificate of compliance gauging the level of alignment to the level of the budget of the Sustainable plans and so far, there has been an improvement from 54%, 60% in 2017/2018 while in 2018/19 government had issued the gender and equity compliance certificate to mainstream as a pre-condition for budget appropriation.
Dr. Byamugisha informed participants that Government has commenced implementation of a program based budgeting and had a comprehensive public management reform strategy from 2018-2023 which was developed to enhance resource mobilization including planning and public investment management.
He also explained that they were able to seal partnerships with the UN system to develop and implement integrated financing framework for strengthening a complementary, independent and a mutually financing mechanism.
Dr. Byamugisha stressed that Government continues to build evidence to guide planning and, with support from UNDP, undertook an assessment of institutional gaps in SDG implementation and also took analytical work on specific SDGs on zero hunger, peace and justice on SDG16 and 11 to resume planning and review SDG 2.
He further said, they have developed an integrated SDG Model for Uganda and through the model, there are three categories of interventions and SDG accelerators which include environment, governance and industry.
Dr. Byamugisha was happy to note that in SDSN was focusing on environment and climate change and already the they government has as one of the key accelerator.
He explained that Government together with stakeholders and partners have initiated strategies and actions of engagement and implementation such as integrating SDGs into the national scientific and statistical framework , integration of SDGs into the M and E Strategy, found a coalition of a youth initiative with a section of the youth at the secretariat.
According to Dr. Byamugisha, government has formed a youth coalition expecting to have one million youth for one million solutions, and gone ahead to the localization of SDGs into district and local government plans and conducting local reviews in local governments .
He said they have started working towards engagement of the private sector by establishing private sector platform. On 4th may 2021, Dr. Byamugisha said, the Prime Minister will be launching the private sector platform and Makerere University will be invited.
Dr. Byamugisha reported that they have embarked on popularization of SDGs with so many media campaigns and production of information education communication materials.
“Tracking SDGs through Uganda national voluntary report was done in 2020 where Uganda participated in a high level UN political forum in July 2020 and this was the Minister delivering Uganda’s report to the UN and, overall, Uganda’s SDG progress according to SDSN, is more than 50% of the way towards achieving SDGs by 2030 .
In the 52 African countries Uganda ranked 18th position with overall score of 58.8 and based on the voluntary national report 2020, Uganda had made good progress on all SDGs with several policies and strategies to facilitate the SDG implementation and key of them are social protection programmes for women,, youth and elderly, youth and job creation and empowerment, the establishment of Universal Primary Education and secondary education, gender equality and women empowerment among others”, Dr. Byamugisha reported.
Mak Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe decries the declining number of children joining university, the increasing population and high rate of urbanization
The Vice Chancellor Makerere University Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked the CAES team particularly MUCCRI leadership for organizing the conference. He also appreciated Prof. Jeff Sash for gracing the occasion.
Prof. Nawangwe congratulated the SDSN group at Makerere University, the Uganda chapter, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and other partners for working with Makerere University on issues of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Vice chancellor said Makerere University has a new strategic Plan (2020-2030) and everything being done under this strategic plan is supposed to practically address the SDGs with a core effort of providing quality education and research and therefore addressing SDG4.
“As a country and university we have a big task. We must find out why we have such a huge exodus of children both at primary and secondary level. The number of children qualifying to join the university has been declining in the last three years. That is contradictory because our population is just skyrocketing and at the same time the number of children who qualify to join the university is decreasing. It is a big challenge and as Makerere University, we must take every necessary effort to address this issue.” The Vice Chancellor decried.
Prof. Nawangwe said with the increasing population, the country has two major issues to deal with. The first issue is food security with the question of how the increasing population is going to be fed.
The second issue according to the Vice Chancellor is the high rate of urbanization. Prof. Nawangwe noted that Uganda was a very low urbanizing country for many years but this has changed. He explained that urbanization rate is putting pressure on soils that will affect the country’s capacity to produce food and the provision of good facilities for good life in the cities. Otherwise, he said, the country will end up with huge slums with no resources and poor services which must be addressed by all.
He reported that the university has many different fields of knowledge addressing different SDGs and that everybody has a role to play.
The Vice Chancellor pledged that the university will rise up to the challenge and take the leadership in ensuring the attainment of the SDGs.
CAES Principal’s opening remarks and the role of MUCCRI in promoting SDGs
The Principal College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) represented by his deputy Assoc. Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga welcome participants to the launch of the Sustainable Development Solutions (SDSN) Uganda National network organized by the global SDSN and SDSN Uganda in collaboration with CAES and Makerere University Centre for Climate Change Research and Innovations (MUCCRI).
In a special way, the Deputy Principal welcomed and equally thanked the global UN SDSN for choosing Makerere University to host the SDSN Uganda National network and for collaborating with the national network to organise this launch.
Dr. Nabanoga saluted the CAES staff who championed the crusade for the university to join the SDSN network following the UN call in July 2017 and conveyed special gratitude to Makerere University Management for the buy-in and support to this initiative.
She reported that SDSN Uganda’s secretariat is hosted at the Makerere University Centre for Climate Change Research and Innovations (MUCCRI), a semi-autonomous unit in the CAES that was launched in 2013 to enhance climate change knowledge generation and dissemination. The Centre engages in Training, Research and Policy Interventions.
Through MUCCRI, Dr. Nabanoga said, the University brings together researchers and scientists from within and outside Makerere University, government officials, civil society, and private sector actors to collaboratively and locally address climate change, share information, and problem solve on adaptation technologies and research.
“We are also using MUCCRI as a vehicle to improve and support undergraduate, graduate, diploma, and postgraduate education in climate science, meteorology, climate change adaptation and mitigation. The Centre therefore contributes greatly to the achievement of SDG 13 on climate action.
I am happy to note that the theme of the launch event, “Unlocking the potential of Universities and other non-state actors to foster achievement of SDGs”, is in line with the global development and climate change agendas agreed upon by world leaders to foster sustainable development and build resilient societies”, the deputy principal said.
She reported that SDSN Uganda will focus on six themes: agriculture and food security, improve health, natural resources and ecosystems, renewable energy and efficiency, sustainable cities, and climate change, with gender equality as a cross cutting theme.
She said the university has a fully-fledged College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, a College of Health Sciences, a College of Engineering and Technology, a School of Economics, a School of Women and Gender Studies, and we are looking forward to partnering with institutions of the same agenda to promote gender-responsiveness achievement of SDG targets under these themes through training, research and innovations, community engagement, capacity building and working with Government on SDGs – (OPM SDGs Secretariat).
Dr. Nabanoga expressed hope that through the SDSN forum, participant will explore how to unlock sustainable agro-industrialization to respond to the pressing socio-economic development priorities of food security, wealth and job creation and expansion of macro-economic growth through country owned processes.
On behalf of the college management the Deputy Principal reaffirmed that SDSN Uganda will continue bringing together SDSN members in the country to identify, develop and implement transformative solutions for sustainable development.
In addition Dr. Nabanoga pledged that SDSN Ugnda network shall mobilize universities, research and knowledge centers, civil society, private sector, and special interest groups to promote the achievement of 2030 sustainable development agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
SDSN Uganda Network Manager Dr. Revocatus Twinomuhangi speaks on the network objectives and structure
The Coordinator Makerere University Centre for Climate Change Research and Innovations (MUCCRI) also Manager, SDSN Uganda network Dr. Revocatus Twinomuhangi said, SDNS Uganda network was approved by the Networks Strategy Council of the UN SDSN in Nov. 2019 and appointed Makerere University to host the national network coordinated under College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), with its Secretariat in Makerere University Centre for Climate Change Research and Innovations (MUCCRI) led by Dr. Revocatus Twinomuhangi as Network Manager, and Hakimu Sseviiri as Network Assistant.
Dr. Twinomuhangi said the Vision of the network is mobilizing universities, research and knowledge centers, civil society, private sector, communities and special interest groups to identify and implement transformative solutions to achieve the 2030 sustainable development agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change in Uganda and the East African region.
He said there are five objectives of the network.:1) is to build awareness and knowledge on SDGs, through supporting high-quality, free, online education via the SDG Academy, short term trainings; Supporting SDSN in production and disseminate SDG reports (global African SDGs index reports and SDSN has led thinking on the SDGs with the reports) Others are delivery short term and professional trainings in member universities; Supporting participation in online education e.g. massive open online courses –MOOCs – through the SDG Academy and Supporting experiential learning
The second objective according Dr. Twinomuhangi is to conduct Research on sustainable development solutions by building partnership and conducting multi-stakeholder dialogues, Support dialogues and provide advice to policy and decision-makers.
The network will also support a vibrant SDSN Youth Network in Uganda and conduct research on sustainable solutions by promoting multi-disciplinary research that will generate evidence-based solutions for enhancing the achievement of SDGs at the national and local levels.
The network he said, will create platforms for building partnerships and dialogues ie thinking spaces for academia, think tanks, government, researchers, private sector, business and civil society and work closely with GoU – the SDGs Secretariat at OPM to mobilize action,
“The other objective is to support dialogues and provide advice to policy and decision-makers . The network will offer evidence-based advice to decision-makers engaged in politics, government, business and society to fill SDG policy gaps and motivate positive change towards implementation and achievement of SDGs.
To empower the youth, we will have a youth wing, the SDSN Uganda Youth empowering the youth to create sustainable solutions that address development challenges. The Youth Wing will focus on; Educating young people about the SDGs and create pathways; Connecting young people to global networks to collaborate to achieve the SDGs in Uganda and; Supporting young people in developing and scaling innovative solutions for the SDGs”, The network manager explained
He said the approved SDSN members in Uganda are:- Makerere University – hosts SDSN Uganda, Ndejje University, Uganda Christian University, National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI)/National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), African Climate change Leadership Program, Uganda Technology and management University and the School of Hygiene – Mbale
Dr. Twinimuhangi said, the Mobilisation of potential members is ongoing. These include Kabale University, Kyambogo University, Busitema University, Makerere University Business School , Economic Policy Research Centre, Agakhan University, Kampala International University and Bishop Stuart University.
He explained that the Vital roles of Universities in the network is through their “business as usual” activities, i.e. research, teaching, operations, community leadership.
He said universities can provide SDG policy support, SDG-oriented research and development (R&D), incubation of new sustainable development businesses, SDG-based education and Multi-stakeholder convening.
The seven thematic focus areas for the network according to the network manager include: Agriculture and food systems, in support ending poverty and hunger (SGDs 1 &2); Improved Health – SDG 3; Natural resources and ecosystem health: SDG 6 (water and sanitation) and SDG15 (life on land) and Renewable energy and energy efficiency: to end energy poverty – SDG7 affordable and clean energy. Others are: Sustainable Cities: Inclusive, Resilient, and Connected (SDG 11); Climate compatible development (SDG 13) and Gender equality responsiveness (SDG 5) – cross cutting
Dr. Twinomuhagi reported that the network has so far recorded achievements including the establishment of a fully functional secretariat in place at MUCCRI with skeleton staff; SDSN Uganda website designed and launched – live and functional – https://sdsn-uganda.org and engagement with members and recruiting potential members.
The centre he said, started dialogue on SDGs with the Government – SDGs Secretariat in Office of the Prime Minister (OPM); MUCCRI/SDSN Uganda participates in SDGs coordination meetings organized by Government and UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (and UNDP) including work in progress on formation of Leadership and Governance Councils.
Dr. Twinomuhangi said the next for SDSN Uganda is approaching proposed members for the National Leadership Council; identifying first priorities and activities; recruiting members and partners and rganize a solutions conference and mobilizing resources.
On Governance and Organization, Dr. Twinomuhangi said SDSN Host: Makerere University convene universities and institutions in the country, and promote the work of the national/regional network.
The Leadership Council: Along the lines of the global SDSN Leadership Council, SDSN Uganda establishes a National LC to mobilize sustainable development leaders from around the country while the Secretariat: CAES/MUCCRI has a dedicated secretariat to organize the work of the network, to ensure communication, and to coordinate with the global SDSN.
Key criteria for membership revolves on engagement, substance, reputation, experience and resources while special cases include other Networks, the Private sector and public institutions.
Agriculture & Environment
Combating Child Malnutrition in the Face of Climate Change: Mak’s Healthy Soy Initiative Offers Hope
*****Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, the Healthy Soy Project seeks to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions. The Project inception meeting was held on 15th August 2025 at CAES, Makerere University.
Overview
Child malnutrition remains one of the most pressing public health challenges worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 148 million children under the age of five were affected by stunting in 2023, a condition caused by chronic under-nutrition that impairs both physical and cognitive development. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 aims to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030, but climate change, rising food insecurity, and deepening inequality are making this goal increasingly difficult to achieve.
Expert reports indicate that as the global climate crisis accelerates, its ripple effects are being felt most acutely in the Global South. Prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and frequent natural disasters are reducing crop yields, diminishing nutrient density in food, and driving up food prices. For smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of food production in many developing countries, these changes are devastating. Without the resources to invest in irrigation or climate-adaptive technologies, they are hit hardest by agricultural losses.
The burden of climate-induced food insecurity and malnutrition is not shared equally. Children are particularly vulnerable, as their growth demands a consistent intake of high-quality nutrients. Women, meanwhile, are doubly impacted. They are often both food producers and the primary caregivers responsible for child nutrition. These gendered and generational inequalities are deepening as food systems falter under environmental stress.
Stunting and the Need for High-Quality Protein
Stunting in children is one of the most visible forms of malnutrition. Once it occurs, reversing it is challenging, though not impossible. For children affected by stunting to catch up in growth, their diets must include high-quality proteins, which are essential for muscle and tissue development.
Animal-source foods such as milk, eggs, and meat provide proteins with the highest biological value. However, in low-income settings, these foods are often prohibitively expensive or unavailable. Soybeans offer a promising alternative – they are a plant-based source of relatively high-quality protein, widely grown and consumed in many parts of the world. However, soy is not without limitations. Its protein bioavailability can be reduced by natural compounds known as anti-nutrients, which inhibit digestion and absorption.
The Healthy Soy Project: A Science-Based Solution for Sustainable Nutrition
In response to this challenge, Makerere University, in collaboration with partners and with funding from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) has launched an innovative research project titled Climate-resilient soybean for improved growth and health of children in Uganda (Healthy Soy). This multi-year project seeks to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions. The University of Copenhagen, Denmark is leading the project, with Makerere University and RECO Industries Limited as partners. The overall PI of the Project is Prof. Benedikte Grenov from the University of Copenhagen. At Makerere University, the project is coordinated by Prof. Phinehas Tukamuhabwa. Other project members include Assoc. Prof. Nanna Roos and Prof. Inge Tetens from the University of Copenhagen; Assoc. Prof. Dorothy Nakimbugwe and Assoc. Prof. Ezekiel Mupere from Makerere University; Mr. Alex Kisembo from RECO Industries Limited; and Prof. Daniel Tomé from Université Paris-Saclay, France.
The Healthy Soy project is structured around four key work packages
WP1 – Selecting Climate-Resilient, Nutrient-Rich Soybean Varieties
Researchers will identify and develop soybean strains that are both resilient to climate stressors and contain high levels of protein with reduced anti-nutrient content, making them more suitable for vulnerable populations.
WP2 – Enhancing Protein Bioavailability through Food Processing
Advanced food processing technologies will be employed to reduce anti-nutrient levels and improve the bioavailability of soy protein. The project will also evaluate how effectively soy protein supports catch-up growth in children affected by stunting.
WP3 – Developing Local Soy-Based Food Supplements
Working closely with local communities and food producers, the project will design and test new soy-based supplements tailored to local dietary habits. These products will be tested for their impact on child health and growth.
WP4 – Building Local Research Capacity and Sharing Knowledge
Capacity-building is a core element of Healthy Soy. The project will invest in training Ugandan researchers, strengthening local institutions, and disseminating findings to farmers, policymakers, health professionals, and other stakeholders across the region. At Makerere University, the project is supporting 3 PhD fellows namely: Ms. Nashim Nassanga from the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Mr. Amos Asiimwe from the Department of Food Technology and nutrition, and Ms. Prudence Ainomugisha from the College of Health Sciences. Ms. Nassanga will focus on identifying climate-smart soybean breeding lines for adaptability and farmers’ acceptability under severe climate conditions in Eastern, Northern, and Western Uganda; Mr. Asiimwe will develop soybean processing protocols to reduce anti-nutrients, improve soy protein bioavailability, and estimate its potential to support catch-up growth in children with stunting; and Prudence Ainomugisha will examine the effects of locally produced soy-based LNS on the growth and health of children with stunting.
The Healthy Soy Project Inception Meeting
On 15th August 2025, the project team held an inception meeting to discuss strategies for its implementation. The session brought together representatives from all partner institutions who shared a detailed overview of their respective roles, and expected contributions to the initiative. The discussions focused on aligning stakeholder roles, clarifying project objectives, and ensuring a coordinated approach to execution.
During the meeting, Prof. Benedikte Grenov, the Principal Investigator, delivered a comprehensive overview of the project. She emphasized the collaborative nature of the project and highlighted the importance of each stakeholder’s role in achieving the intended outcomes. Her presentation set the stage for subsequent contributions from each partner institution, outlining their respective roles and planned activities within the project.
Dr Mildred Ochwo Ssemakula, Prof. John Muyonga, and Dr Robert Mugabi from Makerere University Departments of Crop Science and Horticulture, and Food Technology and Nutrition respectively, briefed the team on their (Departments’) role in the soybean value chain, while Dr Ephraim Nuwamanya from the Makerere University Centre for Soybean Improvement and Development (MAKCSID) shared insights into their ongoing research activities, particularly focused on developing climate-resilient soybean varieties and how these efforts align with the goals of the Healthy Soy Project. The meeting also featured a presentation on the activities of the Child Health Development Centre (CHDC) and its role in the project. Based within the College of Health Sciences at Makerere University, the CHDC will support the training of a full-time PhD fellow who will coordinate and implement a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) involving 300 children affected by stunting.
The representative from RECO Industries Limited, Mr. Alex Kisembo shared their experience in soybean processing and outlined their planned contribution to the project’s product development streams. Additionally, the integration of the Healthy Soy initiative into the national nutrition programming was discussed, with an emphasis on aligning it with priority areas within the health sector. The roles of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) were also presented, particularly focusing on their support for soybean development through policy formulation, quality assurance, and regulatory processes, as well as their planned contributions to the project’s implementation.
Prof. Charles Masembe briefed participants on the reporting and accountability procedures of the Makerere University Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU).
The meeting was moderated by Prof. Phinehas Tukamuhabwa and Dr Jenipher Bisikwa from the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University.
Link to project inception meeting pictorial:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oTo8rhX89Nt1uXy3W0vVRUWkz5vi8WGg?usp=sharing
First Year students admitted to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University have been cautioned to approach University life with clear purpose and focus.
Speaking at the College orientation on 7th August 2025, CAES Principal, Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga urged the students to set goals from the start of their academic journey and to work diligently to achieve them. “University life offers tremendous opportunities, but it also comes with freedoms that can easily lead you off course,” she warned. “Set your academic and personal goals early – understand why you are here, what you want to accomplish, and how you intend to achieve it.”
She encouraged the students to take full advantage of the academic resources, mentorship programmes, and practical training opportunities offered by the College, while also warning them about the distractions that often derail student focus. “Social life is part of the experience, but never let it overshadow your purpose.”
Prof. Nabanoga highlighted the college’s commitment to nurturing future leaders in agriculture, environmental sciences, food technology, and related disciplines. “You join CAES at a critical time when global challenges like climate change, food security, and sustainability demand your innovation and passion. At CAES, we are committed to empowering our students to become job creators and leaders in the agricultural sector.”
The event featured addresses from other key college and University administrators, academic leaders, and representatives from the student guild, who all echoed the importance of intentionality, discipline, and resilience throughout the university journey.
In his remarks, the Deputy Principal of the College, Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze welcomed the First Year students, commending them for joining a College committed to academic excellence and societal impact. “You are fortunate to be part of a college that has carefully designed its academic programmes to align with real-world development pathways,” he said. “Our core mission revolves around the production of knowledge that responds to both local and global needs.”
He emphasized the College’s pivotal role in nurturing critical human capital, likening it to a factory that refines raw talent into highly skilled graduates. “We see ourselves as a knowledge production hub, taking in inputs in the form of students and transforming them into outputs ready to meet the demands of the competitive global market.”
Prof. Bamutaze reiterated the College’s commitment to ensuring that every student receives the support, training, and exposure needed to thrive both academically and professionally. “We are dedicated to ensuring that the entire academic journey is seamless and impactful.
During the orientation programme, the Deans of the schools at CAES introduced the students to the academic programmes offered within their units. In addition to the school-specific briefings, the students received information about the University’s academic structure and operations. This included guidance on essential processes such as registration and examination procedures. They were also introduced to a wide range of support services and institutional policies designed to enhance their academic experience and overall well-being. These included the University’s ICT support systems, library resources, the structure and timelines for fee payments, and key regulatory frameworks such as the Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy and the Safeguarding Policy.
Furthermore, students were informed about the availability of counselling and guidance services, which play a vital role in supporting mental health and personal development. The session also emphasized the University’s commitment to student welfare, aiming to foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments to stand out wherever they go.
Briefing students on the University’s Safeguarding Policy, Prof. Justine Namaalwa emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive and respectful learning environment, strongly cautioning against all forms of discrimination, particularly against persons with disabilities. She reaffirmed the University’s commitment to protecting the dignity, rights, and well-being of every individual, in line with the safeguarding principles of equity, non-discrimination, and accountability.
As an integral component of the orientation programme, the students toured the college facilities to familiarise with the various resources and spaces available, including classrooms, laboratories, the library, recreational areas, and administrative offices.
Agriculture & Environment
Makerere Students Urged to Register Agricultural Innovations to Avoid Plagiarism
By Hasifa Kabejja & Buwule Joseph Mary
The Principal of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) at Makerere University, Prof. Gorettie Nabonoga has urged student innovators to safeguard their intellectual property rights. Speaking at the end-of-recess exhibition organized by the School of Food Technology, Nutrition, and Biosystems Engineering to showcase student-led innovations, she cautioned students about the risks of intellectual theft.
“It is essential to take proactive measures to protect your ideas,” Prof. Nabanoga emphasized. “If you have developed something original and useful, make sure to register your innovation. Intellectual property rights are essential for securing the recognition and rewards you deserve. Remember, plagiarism is not just an academic issue – it affects business and innovation.”
She commended the students for their creativity and responsiveness to local market needs.
Held at the School premises on 24th July 2025, the exhibition, attended by students, staff and industry stakeholders, featured a wide array of student-created products, including solar-dried fruit snacks, low-cost grain sorters, biodegradable packaging from crop waste, and nutrient-rich baked goods targeting malnutrition. Students presented petri dishes from a microbial analysis of street-vended mangoes sold around Makerere University, revealing that the fruits may be unhygienic and potentially unsafe for consumption. They also demonstrated a low-cost water purification technology designed for cleaning and reusing wastewater from pilot or food processing plants. The system utilizes moringa seed powder, charcoal, sand, stones, and cotton wool to produce clean, clear water suitable for reuse, such as for cleaning. Additionally, the students showcased the use of activated charcoal and beeswax to extend the shelf life of fruits like bananas and passion fruit. These innovative, low-cost technologies have the potential to be further developed and adopted by farmers and traders to reduce postharvest losses. The innovations were developed during a 10-week recess programme that immerses students in hands-on fieldwork, research, and product development.
In his remarks, Prof. Ivan Muzira Mukisa, Head, Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, encouraged the students to envision their projects beyond the academic realm and focus on transforming them into viable commercial enterprises. “The future of agriculture lies in innovation. The students have demonstrated the potential to solve pressing challenges, create jobs, and build businesses. Their work shouldn’t end at the exhibition. It should continue into the market,” he said.
Dr. Stella Byakika, Coordinator of the recess programme, emphasized the importance of experiential learning in shaping Uganda’s next generation of agricultural leaders. “This programme goes beyond fulfilling academic requirements. It is a practical training platform where students apply their knowledge to real-world problems. We are preparing them not just to graduate, but to lead in transforming Uganda’s agricultural and agro-processing sectors,” she explained.
On behalf of her classmates, Ms. Ndegema Daphine, a Third Year student of Human Nutrition, expressed gratitude for the hands-on experience gained during their internship. “During the recess term, we had the opportunity to work directly with children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, including cases with edema and dermatosis. We participated in both inpatient and outpatient therapeutic care, which gave us a real-world perspective on the clinical management of these conditions. Unlike in the classroom, where we only study such cases theoretically, the internship allowed us to witness the treatment process a nd see patients recover first-hand. With guidance from our supervisors, we were able to conduct clinical assessments for malnutrition and edema, as well as evaluate dietary needs. We also put into practice what we had learned in our communication skills course by delivering nutrition education sessions, helping patients and caregivers understand the importance of proper nutrition in recovery and long-term health.”
Delivering her remarks, the Dean of the School of Food Technology, Nutrition, and Biosystems Engineering (SFTNB), Dr Julia Kigozi appreciated the University and College Administration for their unwavering support towards students’ projects and academic endeavours. She commended the students for their creativity and commitment to excellence in their work. “Our goal is to nurture and produce well-rounded graduates who not only excel academically but also embody an entrepreneurial mind-set, a strong work ethic, a deep sense of social responsibility, and respect for authority. These values are essential as they prepare to make meaningful contributions to society and the broader global community.”
Held annually, the recess programme equips students with field experience through community-based projects, agribusiness development, and food innovation. The culminating exhibition serves as a platform for feedback, exposure, and networking with industry professionals.
More photos from the exhibition
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