Agriculture & Environment
Mak Unveils Recipes & Products for People Living with HIV/AIDS
By Jane Anyango
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a global pandemic that is currently affecting 3.7 million people worldwide of which 70% are found in sub-Saharan Africa.
Uganda continues to suffer from the scourge of HIV with the current prevalence of 7%. Healthcare of people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda is constrained by poor nutrition with estimates of 25% suffering from malnutrition.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Agnes Nabubuya from the Department of Food Technology and Human Nutrition in October 2020 embarked on the study titled, “Development of Nutrient-dense Recipes and Products from Underutilized crops to alleviate Malnutrition among HIV/AIDS Infected persons in Western Uganda (DoNDRP)”. The study was fully funded by the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).
Other members on the research team are Paddy Ainebyona, Dr. Robert Mugabi, Dr. Ivan Muzira Mukisa from the Department of Food Technology and Human Nutrition and Dr. Immaculate Nakalembe from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB).
On 9th October, 2021 the research team unveiled four formulations of the neglected crops namely: Raw soup products, Instant soups, Raw porridge products and Instant porridge at Kigorobya sub-County. The Raw and Instant Nutrient-Dense porridge and soups were developed from neglected crops such as yam and yam leaves, climbing nuts, millet and cowpeas among others.
The nutritional composition for an optimal porridge is Proteins (20.4%), Crude fibre (13.26%) Carbohydrates (42.21%), Iron (26.78mg/l), Zinc (42.75 mg/l0 while the nutritional composition for an optimal soup is Proteins (25.69%), Crude fibre (20.53%), Carbohydrates (36.27%) Iron (23.14 mg/l) and Zinc (38.92mg/l).
These products were subjected to an assessment by the study community during the research dissemination workshop held in Kigorobya sub-County Community Hall in Hoima district.
The dissemination workshop brought together about 40 participants including Chairpersons of the Local Council I, Village Health Teams, farmers’ leaders, Chairpersons of cooperatives, Parish Chiefs, District production and technical staff and the representative of the Chief Administrative Officer Hoima, and people living with HIV/AIDS among others.
The Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Agnes Nabubuya said, the project target was to carry out an inventory into the underutilized crops and develop a technology to process the selected crops and in addition, generate recipes for preparation of nutrient-dense meals and formulations for products like instant porridge flours and also, to train health facility workers and women from selected communities on using the developed recipes to make nutrient dense foods.
Dr. Nabubuya said they chose Hoima district and Kigorobya sub-County where an inventory of crops was done from farmers and other stakeholders from which mentioned underutilized crops were selected and preference made by farmers from the crops selected by the study team.
“These crops were later taken to the laboratory and analyzed for the nutrients, anti-nutrients, minerals and other properties. We were also able to do functional properties and from which we were able to develop nutrient-dense vegetable soups and porridge which were both raw and instant products”, the PI reported.
Dr. Nabubuya said the study team was back in Kigorobya to disseminate the information that was produced in the laboratory and the analysis. Besides bringing back the information, the researchers were also in Kigorobya to showcase the products made, prepare them for the targeted people so as to get feedback.
The PI said the project along the way brought on board one undergraduate and a masters student who will write a project report and publication on the works.
She said the project mainly focused on people living with HIV/AIDS because of the high level of malnutrition but the products can also be utilized by the whole population because they are nutrient-dense and acceptable to the people.
“This project has come to an end but we are hoping to apply for an extension so that we can be able to come and train the participants on how to produce the products and also monitor the nutritional effects on them”, the PI said.
Mr. Paddy Ainebyona an MSc student of Agricultural Engineering on the project reported that data on neglected crops was collected using questionnaires to highlight the underutilized crops and performing community transect walks to obtain a catalogue of these crops.
Ainebyona also said all study materials were prepared and analyzed using standard analysis protocols.
“We looked at underutilized crops that is in terms of availability and consumption. We came up with a list of 39 underutilized crops and categorized them in descending order starting with one which is liked most and came up with a list of 7 which included pumpkin leaves, yam and yam leaves, millet and climbing nut.
All crops were collected from Kigorobya sub-County, taken to Makarere University laboratories following standard operating procedures including peeling, slicing, drying but also for the leaves we had to do blanching to stop any chemical reactions, slice and assemble them for drying.
We then prepared them and turned them into flours for shelf stability and started actual activity of product development of porridge and soups and later on, decided to turn these flours into instant products”, Mr. Ainebyona explained.
Ainebyona said the products were taken into other processes like standard formulation, sensory evaluation. He said, in the current economic situation, instant products are desired because they are easy to prepare for people who do not have time.
Study community representatives endorse the products as good and important
The sub-County Chief Kigorobya, Mr. Mwesiga Rwamukaga Steven described the project as wonderful and a blessing to the community.
“The number of people living with HIV/AID is increasing with new infections among the teenagers. The nutrition status of our people here is not that good and we have many children who are malnourished
The items used in preparing these supplements are within our locality and have not been taken as being of value. But now, we have seen that they have value and we need to embrace them and strengthen our community capacity so that they can prepare them locally”, the sub-County Chief said.
The Chairperson Local Council III Kigorobya sub-County Mr. Sajjabi Nickolas thanked the people of Kigorobya for participating in the study and turning up in large numbers
“I thank Makerere University staff and students for coming to our community to sensitise the people about the available important foods. We have tasted the porridge and soups and they are very good. We request that you organize more of such forums so that the local people acquire more knowledge and skills about feeding the sick”, Mr. Sajjabi said
Chairperson Farmer’s Management Committee, Kigorobya Cooperative Savings, Mr. Bainomugisa Godfrey thanked Makerere University researchers for processing food supplements from the community neglected crops.
“We have learnt that we have been neglecting our crops which are nutritious and I request the university also to teach us how they are processing these products. The products are so nice and we request for some of these products to take them to the people at home so that they get an impression of the value of the neglected crops. We are going to mobilize our farmers to continue growing the neglected crops because we have learnt that they have important nutrients for our health”, Mr. Bainomugisa said.
The Health Inspector Kigorobya sub-County Ms. Happy Moreen hailed Makerere University for the good initiative noting that what they have developed is of good value to the people they serve.
“Generally the instant porridge was nice but I believe if we add other food values like milk and little sugar it can be sweeter than without. If the salt in the instant soup can be reduced and prepared in a way that it is not very thick, it is the best. In addition to the people living with HIV/AIDS, All the products developed can also be helpful to the children. I urge the university to bring more researchers on board to consider also children of 6 months and above because we believe that when children are no longer on exclusive breast feeding, it is better to introduce them to other food values”, said the health inspector.
Jane Anyango is the Principal Communication Officer, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES)
Agriculture & Environment
Mak-CAES Trains Small-Scale Processors on Soybean Value Addition & Product Development
The Department of Food Technology and Nutrition (DFTN), Makerere University, in collaboration with Smart Foods Uganda Ltd, successfully conducted a five-day intensive training on soybean value addition and product development from 24th to 28th November 2025. The training was implemented with support from IITA Uganda under the Training for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Soy Compact Project, aimed at strengthening agro-processing capacities and promoting soybean utilization for improved nutrition and livelihoods.
The training program was highly practical and skills-oriented, featuring extensive hands-on sessions designed to equip participants with applicable processing and product development competencies. Most of the practical activities were hosted at Makerere University’s Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre (FTBIC). Participants also benefited from an industry exposure and experiential learning session at Smart Foods Uganda Ltd in Bweyogerere, where they gained first-hand insights into commercial-scale soybean processing operations, quality control systems, and product marketing strategies.
Key thematic areas and technologies covered during the training included soybean nutrition and associated health benefits; assessment of quality attributes of soybeans and soy-based products; application of Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP); and processing of high-quality soy products. Practical sessions focused on the production of soymilk, tofu, soy yoghurt, soy flour, and soy coffee, as well as the formulation of soy-fortified composite porridge flours. Participants were also trained in the development of various soy-based bakery products, including bread, mandazi, daddies, and baghia. In addition, sessions on marketing, branding and positioning of soy products, as well as UNBS certification requirements and documentation, were conducted to enhance market readiness and regulatory compliance.
The training attracted a total of 57 participants, comprising small-scale soybean processors and graduating university students, thereby fostering knowledge exchange between academia and industry. Overall, the training contributed significantly to building technical capacity in soybean value addition, promoting entrepreneurship, and supporting the development of nutritious, market-oriented soy-based products in Uganda. The School of Food Technology, Nutrition, and Bioengineering, under the leadership of Dr. Julia Kigozi (Dean), conducts periodical trainings for agro-processors across the country to enhance technical capacity, improve product quality, and promote the adoption of modern, safe, and sustainable food processing practices. These trainings are designed to equip agro-processors with practical skills in food safety, quality assurance, value addition, post-harvest handling, nutrition, and bioengineering innovations, thereby enabling them to meet national and international standards. Through this outreach, the School contributes to strengthening agro-industrial development, reducing post-harvest losses, supporting entrepreneurship, and improving food and nutrition security while fostering stronger linkages between academia, industry, and communities.
The Department of Tourism at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) on Thursday, 11 December 2025, hosted Prof. Sofia Asonitou from the University of West Attica, Greece. Prof. Asonitou serves as the Regional Coordinator for the Sub-Saharan Africa region under the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) framework at her institution.
During her engagement with the Department team led by Prof. Jim Ayorekire, deliberations centred on strengthening avenues for international academic cooperation.
The meeting highlighted several key areas of collaboration, including the initiation of student and staff exchanges under the Erasmus+ mobility program and capacity building in tourism governance. The team also explored the development of a joint masters degree program and the design of micro-credit courses aimed at addressing emerging skills gaps within the tourism sector.
Prof. Asonitou’s visit marked an important step toward deepening institutional partnerships and enhancing the global outlook of tourism education and research within CAES.
The Department of Tourism, which was carved out of the former Department of Forestry, Biodiversity, and Tourism, now operates as an independent academic unit offering a diverse and comprehensive range of programmes. The programmes are designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience necessary to thrive in various sectors of the tourism industry, including sustainable tourism development, hospitality management, and eco-tourism.
Agriculture & Environment
How transformative education is shaping Africa’s next generation of innovators
The African Union’s Agenda 2063 articulates a clear continental ambition; to unlock Africa’s potential to feed itself and to harness the transformative power of its greatest asset, its people. While natural resources remain abundant and diverse, Africa’s long-term prosperity hinges on the strategic cultivation of human capital through robust, forward-looking education systems.
Like many governments across the continent, the Government of Botswana, the host of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM)’s 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM), aligns closely with the Sustainable Development Goals of zero hunger and no poverty. It also upholds the collective aspirations of African Heads of State and Government expressed in the Kampala Declaration under the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP).
Against this backdrop, the pre-AGM session on transformative education and ecosystem engagement convened hundreds of scholars, policymakers, and thought leaders from Africa and beyond. The discussions underscored a shared urgency that strategic collaboration must move from concept to action if the continent is to confront its pressing challenges of food insecurity, public health vulnerabilities, conflict and displacement, youth unemployment, and the persistent pressures of migration. The message was clear; Africa’s transformation requires not isolated interventions, but integrated, interdisciplinary solutions.
In fulfilling the CAADP agenda, universities stand at the forefront. They must leverage every available opportunity to generate workable, evidence-based solutions through science, technology, and innovation. However, they cannot act alone. National Agricultural Research Systems, the private sector, civil society, and development partners must each play an indispensable role in strengthening Africa’s education and agricultural systems. Together, these institutions form the ecosystem that will determine whether Africa can translate its ambitions into tangible progress.
The Youth Dividend
Since its establishment at Makerere University in Uganda in 2004, RUFORUM has supported the training of more than 3000 students across the continent at PhD, Masters, undergraduate and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) level. These scholars, drawn from diverse African countries and hosted in universities across the region, represent a deliberate investment in building Africa’s scientific capacity and advancing pan-African collaboration. Notably, 98% of RUFORUM-supported graduates continue to work within their home countries or regions, reinforcing national and regional development efforts.
A key contributor to this impact is the Mastercard Foundation supported initiative, Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev2.0). This programme strengthens universities, Technical, and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to drive inclusive, equitable, and climate-resilient transformation of agriculture and agri-food systems. Through experiential learning, practical skills development, and youth empowerment, TAGDev enhances the ability of young Africans to engage meaningfully in agriculture as innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs.
Across both TAGDev 1.0 and 2.0, thousands of young women and men have been equipped to establish profitable enterprises and create employment opportunities within their communities.
This transformative impact was evident during a keynote address by Dr. Yeukai Mlambo from the MasterCard Foundation followed by a panel session where four young entrepreneurs and beneficiaries of RUFORUM MasterCard supported programmes, shared their journeys. Their enterprises span a wide spectrum. From improving and multiplying high-quality potato seed in Nakuru Kenya by Winnie Wambugu, to equipping differently abled persons (PWDs) with agronomy and entrepreneurship skills in Uganda by Zena Saliru, to skilling refugees in the west Nile region of Uganda by Gordon Victor Akejo to supporting out-of-school youth to become self-reliant by Kato Omia. These stories illustrate not only the ingenuity of Africa’s youth but also the importance of sustained investment in higher education and innovation ecosystems. They embody the youth dividend that Africa stands to gain if it continues to nurture the potential of its young people.
A moment Africa cannot afford to miss
As the conversations by the young entrepreneurs have made clear, Africa stands at a pivotal moment. The continent’s aspirations captured in Agenda 2063, the SDGs, and the CAADP commitments cannot be realised through intention alone. They demand systems that elevate human capital, institutions that collaborate rather than compete, and education models that prepare young people not merely to seek opportunity but to create it.
The stories shared by emerging entrepreneurs and young scientists are more than inspiring anecdotes; they are proof points. They show that when universities are empowered, when partnerships are genuine, and when young people are trusted with the tools and mentorship they need, transformation is already underway.
The scale of Africa’s challenges requires an equal scale in commitment by Governments, universities, research organisations, the private sector, and development partners who must deepen investments in higher education, innovation ecosystems, and youth-focused initiatives. Failure to do so risks squandering one of the continent’s most powerful assets, its demographic dividend.
Africa must therefore double down on transformative education and ecosystem-led collaboration. The momentum witnessed in Botswana should not end with the AGM. It should mark the beginning of renewed resolve to equip Africa’s young people with the skills, networks, and support they need to lead the continent’s next chapter.
The future is already taking shape in laboratories, fields, innovation hubs, and classrooms across the continent. It is time to scale what works and ensure that Africa’s brightest minds are empowered to build the strong and prosperous nations they envision. Collectively, we shall all achieve the Africa that we want.
-
Research1 week agoMakerere University Launches Knowledge-Sharing Platform to Drive Innovation and Economic Growth
-
General2 weeks agoMakerere University Leaders Call for Excellence in Research and Supervision as Academic Staff and PhD Students Receive Certificates
-
Health2 weeks agoMakerere University Explores Strategic Partnership with Tsinghua University in Safety Science, Disaster Resilience and Public Health
-
Business & Management1 week agoEfD Uganda Marks 2025 Milestones, Sets Strategic Path for 2025–2029
-
Health1 week agoMakerere University and Tsinghua University Launch Landmark China–Uganda Joint Laboratory on Natural Disaster Monitoring and Early Warning