Agriculture & Environment
Mak Secures another 10 Hectares in Rupa Sub-County Moroto for Livestock Café
Makerere University has secured an additional 10 hectares of land from the pastoralist community in Rupa Sub-County, Moroto District for establishment of a livestock café. The allocated land comes with a valley tank and cattle crush. This was the Drylands Transform project’s second land offer in the Karamoja sub-region following the first in Poron Sub-County, Napak District.
Livestock cafés will be the experimental sites to study forage productivity, establish novel co-learning and knowledge exchange centers and create opportunities for milk and fodder value chains.
The land was handed over to the project by Moroto District and Rupa Sub-County Technical and Administrative officials and witnessed by clan leaders at Lokapel Village on Sunday 24th October, 2021.
The handover ceremony was attended by the Local Council (LC) V Chairman Mr. Loru Moses, the LCV Woman Councillor Ms. Lochoro Clementina, the LCIII Chairperson Mr. Adipa John Robert Akiki, the Speaker Mr. Komol Parl Miki and the LCI Chairman Lokapel village Mr. Lotee Nangiro. Also present were the Youth Representative and Clan Elders Mr. Achok Lopeima and Mr. Eluktoper Ngorok.
The valley tank and cattle crush within the project site university were also handed over to the research team and supplemented by an alternative site in the event of insecurity during the December –January dry spell.
Speaking at the project site during the inception meeting, the clan leaders led by Mr. Achok Lopeimal said the community accepted to offer the land to the project and expressed willingness to protect and utilize it after the project cycle.
The clan leaders also asked the researchers to include the conservation of the indigenous plant species in the livestock cafés. The species identified for conservation include; Ekapelimea (for treatment of cough and chest infections), Ekodoli (for treatment of wounds), Eusugu (a remedy for infections and chest pain), Ekorete (for diarrhea and milk enhancement) and Etoke (used as fruit and remedy for stomachache).
Other species were Ekoke (eaten like groundnut paste), Ekaramuae (fodder), Ebei (food) and Epipa (mixed with soil or water and smeared on the body or sprinkled on enemies for protection). Others are Acacia Seyal a tree species useful for production of gum arabic and bee keeping currently threatened by charcoal burning.
The locals also want the University to address issues of bush burning and tick control that have led to low productivity of livestock as well as research on an invasive weed for pasture commonly known as Epoo, which when consumed by a lactating cow, makes milk bitter.
The LCIII Chairman Mr. Adupa John Robert Akiki said the community has given 10 hectares of land to the project for the benefit of the Sub-County.
“We have the tank for watering and the cattle crush for spraying within the land. The land is located in Lokapel village, Moroto District and we are going to demarcate with the councilors and clan leaders present here”, Mr. Adupa said.
Makerere University Drylands Transform Principal investigator Prof. Denis Mpairwe appreciated the Moroto District Local Government leadership for the cooperation and offer of land.
Prof. Mpairwe said the university was in Moroto and Rupa Sub-County in particular, to ask for land, blessings and commitment by locals to work with the project, adding that all data collection and knowledge sharing will be done by the locals.
He described the additional components of a dam and the spray race at the project site as an added advantage that the project will build upon for tick control and provision of water for livestock.
Prof. Mpairwe explained that a team of researchers will work with the clan elders and local residents to gather the information on indigenous species for purposes of conservation and also form a component of the livestock café.
He said the project’s target is knowledge sharing, teaching the people on what to do to conserve the land, increase on its productivity, stop degradation, improve human and animal health and in the long run, improve the livelihoods of people.
“The livestock café will be used as a learning site or school to demonstrate how the pastoral communities can utilize the land sustainably without degrading it and in this they will understand the dangers associated with bush burning. We shall also teach and demonstrate how to improve on land productivity and in the long run, improve the livelihoods of the people.
The livestock cafe according to Prof. Mpairwe will look at how to improve all the crops, the pasture and trees in the area and also try to address the challenges of the dryland areas such as water and feed scarcity by showing pastoralists the sustainable ways of conserving water and making hay as future fodder for livestock during the time of plenty.
About Drylands Transform Project
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences is leading a multidisciplinary team of researchers from Umea University, Gothenburg University, University of Nairobi, Makerere University, World Agroforestry (ICRAF) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to implement the: “Achieving the SDGs in East African drylands: Pathways and challenges towards a transformation of landscapes, livestock and livelihoods in the East African drylands (Drylands Transform)” project in the greater Karamoja cluster of Uganda and Kenya
The Karamoja cluster of drylands covers Western Pokot, Kenya, Turkana region, the South Western and Eastern part of Ethiopia, the South Eastern part of South Sudan and the whole Karamoja region of Uganda.
Drylands Transform is a five-year project funded by the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development, Formas, within their call for realizing the global Sustainable Development Goals. It aims to address complex challenges in the East African drylands such as climate change, food insecurity, land and ecosystem degradation and weak institutions.
The field studies will take place in four sites providing variation in livelihood strategies, land management and climate that is, Chepareria (Kenya) and Matany (Uganda) in the south dominated by agro-pastoralist communities as well as Lokiriama-Lorengippi (Kenya) and Rupa (Uganda) in the north dominated by pastoralists.
The project investigates the inter linkages between land health, livestock based livelihoods, human wellbeing and land governance mechanisms in order to contribute to transformative change and sustainable development of the social ecological system in drylands of East Africa. The overall goal is to contribute knowledge for the implementation and achievement of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while optimizing synergies and minimizing trade-offs between SDGs, in the East African drylands by developing transformative pathways through policy and practice.
Jane Anyango is the Principal Communication Officer, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES)
Agriculture & Environment
RUFS Project Team Trains Smallholder Farmers in Mbale City in Smart Agronomic Practices
Overview
Following stakeholder engagements in Mbale City and Kasese Municipality to introduce Phase II of the Resilient Urban Food Systems (RUFS) Project, it became evident that farmers in both regions face a range of challenges that significantly impact agricultural productivity. Among the most pressing issues are frequent floods, landslides, waterlogging, and prolonged periods of drought, all of which threaten food security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
In response, the RUFS Project team has designed a series of targeted interventions aimed at addressing these climate-related challenges. Central to these efforts is the provision of specialized training to enhance farmers’ capacity to adapt and thrive in the face of environmental stressors. Through these trainings, smallholder farmers in Mbale City and Kasese Municipality will be equipped with practical knowledge and skills in climate-smart agronomic practices that promote sustainability and resilience. Smart Agronomic Practices, as promoted in the training, focus on techniques that improve yield while conserving natural resources. This includes composting, pest control using natural extracts, crop rotation, intercropping, and the adoption of drought-resistant crop varieties. By prioritizing ecological balance and resource efficiency, the RUFS project aims to protect urban communities from the effects of climate change, price volatility, and food insecurity.
Training on smart agronomic practices in Mbale City
As part of this initiative, over 20 smallholder farmers in Mbale City recently received extensive training on Smart Agronomic Practices. The training, conducted from 6th to 7th October 2025 at Emily Royal Mixed Farm in Industrial City Division, Mbale City, forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen urban food systems by empowering farmers with sustainable, adaptive, and cost-effective farming techniques tailored to the realities of a changing climate.
Led by Prof. Frank Mugagga from the Department of Geography, Geo-Informatics, and Climatic Sciences at Makerere University, and funded through the AgriFoSe2030 Programme, the RUFS project aims to create a ripple effect of knowledge transfer, particularly in informal and peri-urban communities where agriculture remains both a livelihood and a cornerstone for food security. Phase II of the RUFS project sets out to: 1) Strengthen flood and drought resilience in urban communities through strengthened stakeholder collaboration in Mbale and Kasese, 2) Raise community awareness on climate risks and equip residents with preventive and adaptive skills, 3) Integrate indigenous and local knowledge into policy and planning for more context-relevant decision-making, and 4) Co-develop knowledge with both state and non-state actors to promote inclusive and evidence-based decisions.
Training in the production of organic fertilizers and pesticides
During the two-day training, farmers were introduced to practical techniques for producing organic fertilizers and pesticides using affordable, locally available materials. Emily Royal Mixed Farm, the training venue, and home of one of the project beneficiaries, Ms. Emily Namalwa, served as a practical learning hub where theory met practice. Led by Mr. Henry Stanley Mbowa, Head of Research at AidEnvironment and a member of the RUFS Project, and backed by the Mbale City technical team, the hands-on sessions demystified the process of creating environmentally friendly agricultural inputs such as compost and bio-pesticides.
Step by step, the enthusiastic farmers were trained to formulate effective organic fertilizers and pesticides using locally available materials such as cow dung, animal and human urine, ash, onions, pawpaw leaves, pepper, tobacco, luwoko (Phytolacca dodecandra), and muluuku (Tephrosia vogelii). These natural alternatives provide a sustainable response to the rising cost and environmental impact of synthetic inputs. They not only enhance soil health and increase crop productivity, but also reduce chemical residues in food, promoting safer and more resilient farming practices.
While conducting the hands-on sessions, Mr. Mbowa emphasized that these solutions are not only effective but scalable. “These are techniques that require no expensive inputs. Farmers can adopt them right away using the resources they already have at their disposal,” he said.
As part of the training, Mr. Whepukulu Juma, a dedicated urban farmer and President of the Mbale City Food Systems Platform, briefed the farmers on the critical steps and best practices for preparing a food nursery bed. Drawing from his experience, Mr. Whepukulu highlighted the significance of proper soil preparation, emphasizing soil health and nutrient management as foundational to successful seedling development. He also stressed the importance of selecting high-quality seeds suited to local conditions and demonstrated effective maintenance techniques such as regular watering, timely weeding, and shading to protect young seedlings from excessive sun or rain.
According to Prof. Mugagga, the trainings that will be conducted over the next 18 months are a response to the urgent need for cities to reimagine their food systems amid rapid urbanization. “Urban agriculture is no longer an option, it is a necessity. Our goal is to empower smallholder farmers with knowledge that makes their practices not only productive but also sustainable and adaptive to climate stress,” Prof. Mugagga stated.
Farmers’ views on the Training
- Ms. Emily Namalwa, an urban farmer and proprietor of Emily Royal Mixed Farm, expressed appreciation for the training. Her farm, located within Mbale City, produces a wide range of crops including tomatoes, sukuma wiki (collard greens), eggplants, matooke (plantains), and passion fruit, alongside poultry farming.
- Reflecting on the impact of the training, Ms. Namalwa said: “This has been eye-opening. I have learned that many of the resources we need to feed and protect our crops are readily available in our surroundings. What we once considered as waste can actually be transformed into valuable inputs for farming. This approach not only reduces costs but also promotes sustainability.”
- She further narrated how the RUFS training reshaped her perspective on land use for farming: “Before this, I focused solely on cultivating coffee on a one-acre piece of land located far from my home. I never imagined that I could turn the small 100 by 100 plot around my house into a productive farm. Thanks to the training on urban agriculture, I now understand how to make the most of even limited space for food production.”
- Citing the benefits, Ms. Namalwa expressed gratitude for the continued support RUFS extends to smallholder farmers. “RUFS has given us the knowledge and tools to make urban farming not just possible, but profitable. I am truly grateful for their efforts in empowering farmers like me in Mbale City.”
- According to Mr. Mudoma Cassim, Chairman of the Nabuyonga Horticulture Farmers’ Association in Industrial City Division, Busamaga, Mbale, the training provided by the RUFS project was both timely and impactful. “For a long time, our farmers have heavily depended on inorganic fertilizers purchased from commercial outlets. Unfortunately, these fertilizers are not only expensive but also contribute to the degradation of soil health over time, leading to reduced productivity in the long run. The training we received on the production and use of organic fertilizers and pesticides has opened our eyes to a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative. By learning how to produce organic fertilizers and pesticides locally, we can significantly reduce the cost of inputs while improving soil fertility and overall yields.”
- “I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the RUFS project team and their funders for this valuable initiative. It is my earnest appeal that such trainings continue, not only on the production of organic fertilizers and pesticides but also on other important aspects of sustainable farming practices. Additionally, I humbly request that the project considers supporting farmer groups like ours with irrigation equipment, such as spray pumps. This would greatly enhance our capacity to maintain consistent production even during dry spells, ensuring food security and stable incomes for our members.”
- Mr. Ssenkoto Julius, a dedicated farmer from Industrial City, Masaba in Mbale District, is equally grateful for the support provided by the RUFS Project. He specifically commended the hands-on training he received on producing organic fertilizers and pesticides using locally available materials, a skill he believes is not only cost-effective but also environmentally sustainable. “I primarily grow tomatoes, but I also cultivate sukuma wiki (collard greens),” he stated. “The knowledge imparted during the training was incredibly valuable. I have already begun applying the organic methods on my farm, and I am keen to observe the difference in performance between these natural products and the conventional ones purchased from agro-shops.” Mr. Ssenkoto also appealed to the RUFS Project to consider extending similar training opportunities in animal husbandry. “Many of us are mixed farmers,” he explained. “Equipping us with skills in livestock management would greatly enhance our productivity and improve our livelihoods.”
- Ms. Nekesa Josephine, a horticulture farmer from Northern City in Nkoma, Mbale District, appreciated the RUFS Project team for the training, highlighting its potential to transform farming practices in the region. “I am truly grateful for this opportunity. The training has opened my eyes to more sustainable and cost-effective methods of farming. I have already started experimenting with the production of organic fertilizer using cow dung, a practice I had not considered seriously before. If it proves successful, it will greatly reduce our dependence on expensive chemical fertilizers bought from agro-vet shops, which many of us struggle to afford. This kind of knowledge is not only practical but empowering, especially for smallholder farmers like myself. I sincerely hope that these trainings can be scaled up and extended to cover livestock management. Training in animal husbandry would go a long way in helping us improve both crop and animal productivity, ultimately boosting our incomes and food security.
During the training programme, participants were tasked to document the current status of their farms and agricultural activities. Coordinated by Mr. Peter Kasaija, a member of the RUFS Project, the exercise was intended to support monitoring and assessment of the impact of the RUFS Project initiatives.
The team will hold a similar engagement in Kasese Municipality from 12th-15th October 2025.
More photos from the training
Pictorial on the training:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17NeSVJvLn6wJjtzodL25XtN5arnXXNdz?usp=sharing
Introduction
The Sustainable Off-Grid Solutions for Pharmacies and Hospitals in Africa (SophiA) is providing sustainable off-grid energy supplies and water free of bacteria and viruses for rural and remote health facilities in Africa, thereby accelerating the sustainable development, growth and economic transformation, and ensuring improved access to energy and health services for all.
Using various technologies, such as photovoltaics, solar thermal, electrical and thermal storage, water treatment, and natural refrigerants with low global warming potential, SophiA has developed and manufactured locally innovative, modular, affordable, and efficient solar powered systems for providing:
- Safe and clean drinking water, free of bacteria and viruses, and deionised water for medical purposes.
- Hot water and steam production for thermal requirements of the hospitals.
- Cooling of medicines and food at +5°C.
- Low temperature storage of blood plasma and vaccines at -30°C.
- Ultra-low temperature storage of sensitive medication (e.g. some Covid-19 or Ebola vaccines) at -70°C
In addition, PV MedPort, a simple and 100% solar-powered solution has been developed and tested as a mobile health care station in small remote areas in 4 different geographical conditions in Africa.
SophiA systems have been manufactured in Africa and will provide, for the first-time, innovative solutions based on climate-friendly natural refrigerants to cover cooling demand for three different temperature ranges (-70°C, -30°C and +5°C). The systems have been tested and demonstrated at four rural hospitals in remote regions throughout the African continent covering the major geographical regions and different climatic conditions in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi and Uganda.
Launch of the SophiA Project Facility at Buvuma Health Centre IV
The SophiA Project facility installed at Buvuma Health Centre IV was officially commissioned on 30th September 2025, by the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, represented by the Dean, School of Food Technology, Nutrition, and Bio-systems Engineering at CAES, Dr Julia Kigozi.
The event was attended by over 100 guests including local government officials, healthcare professionals, university staff and students, traders, and community members. The occasion showcased the transformative technologies introduced under the SophiA Project, aimed at enhancing energy access and health service delivery in off-grid communities.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Nicholas Kiggundu, the Project Coordinator in Uganda, outlined the advanced systems installed at Buvuma Health Centre IV. These include:
- Electricity Generation: A 36 kWp photovoltaic (PV) solar system supported by a 13 kVA standby generator ensures continuous power supply.
- Water Systems: Provision of safe drinking water through ultra-filtration and de-ionized water using membrane capacitive de-ionization technology.
- Thermal Energy: Hot water and steam generation for cooking, bathing, and sterilization, using thermo-energy storage.
- Solar Cooking: Outdoor cooking with Scheffler reflectors capable of reaching temperatures up to 200°C.
- Refrigeration: Environmentally friendly cooling units maintain medicine at +5°C, blood plasma at -30°C, and vaccines, including for COVID-19 and Ebola, at required temperatures using natural refrigerants like propane (R290).
- Maternity Support: Installation of Xsol water heaters to provide warm water in the maternity wing.
Additionally, a 2 kWp PV MedPort was installed at Lukale Health Centre III, offering reliable electricity for disease screening and youth outreach services. Both installations feature containerized units integrated with a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for real-time monitoring and operational safety. Key safety features include external ventilated compartments for flammable refrigerants and systems to discharge surplus solar power to the ground.
The excess energy generated by the PV system not only powers the health centre at night but also supports critical services such as the neonatal unit, further extending the project’s impact.
The launch also featured a tour of the facility, with an interactive question and answer session focusing on system safety (such as propane compartment ventilation) and scalability.
Now fully operational, the systems provide over 18 hours of reliable electricity daily, surpassing national averages, and enables vaccine storage critical for outbreak response. Buvuma Health Centre IV is set to serve as a learning laboratory for Makerere University students and other institutions.
The project was implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and 12 consortium partners, with support from the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Local stakeholders, including the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), and Buvuma District Local Government (DLG), also contributed significantly.
Remarks by the Vice Chancellor
In his remarks delivered by Dr. Julia Kigozi, the Vice Chancellor expressed gratitude to the late Prof. Noble Bannadda for his pivotal role in crafting the project. He thanked Prof. Nicholas Kiggundu, the Principal Investigator, for successfully implementing the project at both Buvuma Health Centre IV and Mua Mission Hospital in Dezda, Malawi. He also thanked other SophiA Project team members at Makerere University namely: Dr. Denis Muhangi (CHUSS), Dr. Sarah Bimbona (COBAMS), and Mr. Alvin Asingya (CAES), and institutional partners.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated the European Union for funding the SophiA Project alongside several other initiatives at Makerere University.
Compiled by Prof. Nicholas Kiggundu – PI, SophiA Project/member of staff in the Department of Agricultural & Bio-systems Engineering at CAES, Makerere University.
More about the project at – https://news.mak.ac.ug/2025/07/sophia-project-upgrades-health-infrastructure-at-buvuma-health-centre-iv-trains-technicians-for-maintenance-works/
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