Agriculture & Environment
Mak hosts Climate Science Policy Dialogue
Theme: Climate Change Knowledge Brokering
Overview
Human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gases, have unequivocally caused global warming, with global surface temperature reaching 1.1°C in 2011-2020. Between the years 2031-2060, temperatures are projected to rise by 1.5°C to 3 °C in contrast to the average temperature between 1981-2010. Global greenhouse gas emissions have continued to increase, with unequal historical and ongoing contributions arising from unsustainable energy use, land use and land-use change, lifestyles and patterns of consumption and production across regions, between and within countries, and among individuals. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred. Human-caused climate change has led to widespread adverse impacts and related losses and damages to nature and people. Vulnerable communities who have historically contributed the least to current climate change are disproportionately affected. Increasing weather and climate extreme events have exposed millions of people to acute food insecurity and reduced water security, with the largest adverse impacts observed in many locations and/or communities in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, LDCs, Small Islands and the Arctic, and globally for Indigenous Peoples, small-scale food producers and low-income households. Between 2010 and 2020, human mortality from floods, droughts and storms was 15 times higher in highly vulnerable regions, compared to regions with very low vulnerability. In all regions increases in extreme heat events have resulted in human mortality and morbidity. Hundreds of local losses of species have been driven by increases in the magnitude of heat extremes Economic damages from climate change have been detected in climate-exposed sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, fishery, energy, and tourism (IPCC Synthesis Report, 2023).
According to the Report, adverse impacts from human-caused climate change will continue to intensify, a factor that calls for adaptation planning and implementation across the globe.
Adaptation gaps in Uganda
In Uganda, a significant adaptation gap exists and is expected to widen despite the rising public knowledge of climate change, and progressive implementation of adaptation interventions. Some of the key barriers to adaptation include low climate literacy and public engagement, low uptake of adaptation science, and insufficient financial mobilization.
Plans to narrow adaptation gap
In a bid to contribute to narrowing the adaptation gap, Makerere University Climate Change Research Institute (MUCCRI) and Environmental Management for Livelihood Improvement Bwaise Facility (EMLI) intend to collaborate with partners to facilitate mutual learning and open deliberation amongst all the relevant stakeholders, particularly researchers, Civil Society Organizations, policy makers, the private sector.
Policy Dialogue on Climate Science
On 20th June 2023, Makerere University School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences in collaboration with MUCCRI, EMLI and World Wide Fund for Nature Conservation-Uganda Country Office (WWF-UCO) held a policy dialogue on climate science. The dialogue held at Makerere University under the theme; Climate Change Knowledge Brokering was attended by researchers, policy makers, representatives from civil society organizations, representatives from the government, and the private sector.
Delivering a presentation titled, University-Based Researchers as Knowledge Brokers for Climate Policies and Actions, Dr. Revocatus Twinomuhangi, Dean, School of Forestry, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences, Makerere University, also Coordinator of MUCCRI called for increased engagement between policy makers and researchers. “Universities are knowledge brokers. To make a good policy, you need evidence and evidence can only be got from research. In most cases, policies do not work because they are not backed up by evidence. There is lack of quality information to address the challenges. Universities therefore have a critical role to play in informing policy and mitigating the impact of climate change,” he explained, noting that most times important research that would inform policy remains on the shelves due to lack of coordination and engagement.
According to Dr Twinomuhangi, a study conducted to understand the experiences of researchers who attempt to engage around climate issues revealed that people in the world of policy regard University researchers as too rigid and theoretical with limited knowledge about policy issues. The study also revealed that most times policy makers preferred and depended on media reports in making decisions because scientific research is too technical and difficult to interpret. Other factors undermining engagement included; heavy workload, lack of incentives, limited funding for outreach within the government and universities, limitations to information sharing, and the continued erosion of academic freedom.
In a bid to bridge the gap between academia and policy makers, participants emphasized the importance of engagement in policy formulation, and made recommendations to retool researchers to effectively communicate with the world of policy. Suggestions were also made to increase funding for research, set terms of reference for policy engagement, hire academics as advisors in government, and increasingly use media and communication specialists to disseminate research to the policy world.
Commenting on the role of academia in policy formulation, Dr Patrick Byakagaba, a Lecturer from the Department of Environment, Makerere University explained that the public was increasingly appreciating the knowledge generated by Universities. “There is increased uptake of the knowledge generated at the University because it is perceived to be credible,” he noted, pointing to the growing interest for collaboration between the academia and policy actors.
To increase uptake, Ms. Jalia Namubiru from EMLI urged academics to always align their research to policy needs.
In his presentation, the Representative of the Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change, Hon. Biyika Lawrence Songa highlighted several barriers to climate change management including lack of coordination amongst stakeholders, inadequate laws, restrictions on the type of research that can be conducted, and corruption. He highlighted the need to address governance issues and to review climate laws. The representative of civil society organizations, Mr. Paul Mulindwa decried the low implementation of adaptation actions and called for policy that relates to actions of the people who suffer the consequences of climate change.
Mr. Yona Turinayo Karibwije, Energy and Climate Programme Coordinator at WWF Uganda Country Office called for inclusiveness within the agenda of climate change. “Involve communities, simplify research for the local population, and embrace interdisciplinarity in research.”
Dr Edward Nector Mwavu, Head, Department of Forestry, Biodiversity and Tourism, Makerere University rallied the academia and researchers at Makerere and other universities to continue providing expert opinions on climate change and other issues of national importance. In a bid to reverse the harsh effects of climate change, Dr Mwavu called for more research and innovation, sensitization of the local populace, as well as strengthening of adaptation mechanisms.
As takeaways from the dialogue, participants emphasized the importance of indigenous knowledge, and good governance in climate change actions. They also emphasized the need for Universities to put in place appropriate frameworks to foster engagement in policy formulation.
Agriculture & Environment
Strengthening Capacity and Shaping Policy: Makerere University Reviews Progress of MERIT and Environmental Risk Research Programs
Makerere University, this week, through the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), hosted a comprehensive impact review of the Environmental Risk Management Under Increasing extremes and Uncertainty (MERIT) Project, bringing together faculty, researchers, students, and partners from Ugandan and Norwegian institutions. The discussions highlighted the transformational impact of collaborative research, student engagement, and capacity development in shaping policy, strengthening community resilience, and advancing Makerere’s contribution to national development.
A Cross-Continental Partnership Driving Change
The MERIT Project, focusing on Environmental Risk Management and the Increasing Extremes and Uncertainty, is a five-university collaboration funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) under the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED) programme. The project, which runs from 2021 to 2026 (with a one-year extension due to COVID-related delays), seeks to enhance mutual collaboration between universities in Sub-Saharan Africa and Norway. The project grant is worth 20 million Norwegian kroner and is being implemented across four Universities, namely, Makerere University, Uganda Martyrs University, University of Dar es Salaam, and Haramaya University in Ethiopia, with a strong involvement of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the Western University of Science and Technology.
Its core components include:
- Curriculum review and development
- Staff and student training (Master’s and PhDs)
- Joint research and publications
- Community-based environmental risk interventions
- Student and staff exchange programs
- SDG integration and gender mainstreaming
So far, 20 staff and 15 mainstream students have benefited from and participated in the project initiatives, with 13 Master’s and 2 PhD candidates progressing through specialised training in environmental risk management, geohazards, and disaster risk studies.
Student Research Driving Evidence-Informed Policy and Practice
The MERIT and NORHED-supported projects have empowered graduate students and early-career researchers at Makerere University to undertake cutting-edge research that directly informs Uganda’s environmental risk management agenda. Although the full findings are yet to be published, the projects have catalyzed important scientific inquiry in several key areas.
Some of the students are currently working on:
- Improving environmental data and modelling to strengthen flood forecasting, hydrological planning, and climate-related risk assessment in high-risk regions.
- Assessing disaster risk reduction practices at the local government level and examining how global frameworks such as the Sendai Framework and the SDGs are being implemented on the ground.
- Exploring nature-based solutions, including sustainable approaches to land restoration, riverbank stabilization, and ecosystem protection.
- Studying climate impacts on agriculture and food systems, with a focus on supporting vulnerable households and smallholder production.
- Mapping urban ecological systems, including forest patches and carbon stocks, to guide sustainable urban planning.
- Documenting community-led adaptation strategies and traditional ecological knowledge to strengthen locally grounded resilience approaches.
- Evaluating the role of non-state actors, such as NGOs and community groups, in environmental risk reduction and recovery efforts.
Together, these research efforts are generating practical insights that can shape policy development, inform district and national planning, and strengthen community resilience. The projects are also building a new cohort of scientists equipped with the skills to bridge academic work with real-world environmental management challenges.
Community Engagement and Local Knowledge at the Centre
The Environmental Risk Management component of the MERIT project has contributed to impactful knowledge and research vital for community interventions in highland and mountainous areas such as Mbale, Bududa, Sironko, and other districts that are prone to environmental risks, like landslides, flooding, and geohazards.
Key community-focused activities highlighted in the meeting included digitizing households in high-risk areas, using remote sensing and GIS to develop contextual warning systems, documenting and integrating traditional ecological knowledge, assessing community resilience and vulnerabilities, and generating data for localized environmental risk planning. Such engagements not only strengthen community preparedness but also provide students with rich field experience and data for their research.
Student Exchanges and a Global Learning Experience
In an Interview, Prof. Harald Aspen,the Head, Department of Geography and Social Anthropology at NTNU, and Dr. Charlotte Nakakaawa Jjunja, the administrative co-ordinator of the project at NTNU, noted that, so far, five students from NTNU are currently undertaking research and internships in Uganda, immersing themselves in local challenges and contributing to joint innovations. Ugandan students have also benefited from exposure to Norway’s systems, creating a two-way flow of knowledge and experience.
They further noted that the exchange program, supported by the CostClim project under the Norpart project, helps students appreciate the complexities of implementing SDGs in diverse contexts, turning theory into practical, actionable insights.
Strengthening Makerere’s Institutional Capacity
Makerere University has benefited significantly from the MERIT collaboration. In his remarks, Prof. Yazhidi Bamutaaze, the Deputy Principal, CAES, noted that the College had acquired a Land Cruiser to support fieldwork, funding for curriculum review and SDG evaluation, support for gender mainstreaming initiatives, research funding for senior academic staff, enhanced visibility through joint publications and innovations, competence development trainings for college staff and students and co-supervision arrangements among others.
Such partnerships reinforce the University’s strategic commitment to cutting-edge research, global collaboration, and community impact.
Sustainability, Student Energy, and the Path Forward
A major segment of the meeting focused on the operationalization of sustainability principles across the University. Dr. Paul Mukwaya, the Head, Department of Geography, Geo-informatics and Climatic Sciences at CAES, emphasized leveraging student enthusiasm, building sustainability clubs, and avoiding passive “mainstreaming” in favour of proactive sustainability actions.
Key recommendations included:
- Training students on how to develop policy briefs
- Ensuring every student project reflects the SDGs
- Creating a central repository or map of all student work
- Strengthening academic supervision to grow student confidence
- Building systems that ensure research outputs influence actual practice
Dr. Mukwaya further highlighted the importance of student self-confidence, continuous reflection, and mentorship in shaping future academic and professional careers through the MERIT project.
Challenges and Opportunities
While the project has achieved significant milestones, several challenges remain, such as administrative and IT-related delays, balancing donor expectations with academic timelines and bureaucracies, maintaining strong collaborations across multi-university partnerships and ensuring sustainability initiatives are integrated and action-driven
Conclusion: A Growing Ecosystem of Impact
The review meeting affirmed that the MERIT and related research programs are not just academic exercises; they are shaping the future of environmental resilience, policy development, and capacity building in Uganda. The University’s commitment to student growth, collaborative innovation, and evidence-based policy influence underscores the central role Makerere continues to play in national and global development conversations.
As the project enters its final years, the focus now shifts to consolidating gains, scaling successful interventions, and ensuring that the research produced today continues to transform lives tomorrow.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.
The School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-Engineering (SFTNB), in partnership with the Makerere Innovation and Incubation Center (MIIC), held the third edition of its Entrepreneurship Exhibition on 12th November 2025, bringing together student innovators to showcase a semester’s worth of creativity, research, and product development. The exhibition is a key milestone under the SFTNB Entrepreneurship Program – Cohort 3, a structured model that guides students through the full innovation journey — from idea generation and business training to prototyping, testing, and market access. Supported by MIIC with a UGX 7 million innovation fund, the program has empowered more than 60 students across 15 innovation groups to develop practical, sustainable, and market-ready solutions in food technology, nutrition, and engineering. This year’s exhibition provided a platform for students to present their prototypes, share their business concepts, and engage with university leaders, industry partners, and potential investors, further strengthening Makerere University’s commitment to nurturing a new generation of entrepreneurial change-makers.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe commended the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering for nurturing innovations that reflect both creativity and commercial potential. He observed that many of the student products exhibited could be patented, scaled up, and exported, provided their shelf life, packaging, and branding are further improved. Emphasizing that innovation must go beyond classroom projects, Prof. Nawangwe urged students to view their work as viable enterprises capable of transforming communities and creating employment. He also pledged the university’s support in helping innovators register companies and access product certification, even suggesting that Makerere could subsidize related costs. He further called for closer collaboration with economists and marketers to assess product feasibility, adding that the university’s innovation ecosystem should include a dedicated marketing unit. He concluded by reminding students that their ideas hold the power to reshape Uganda’s economy and uplift livelihoods. “Don’t think what you’re doing is small. You’re contributing to transforming a whole society,” he said, adding that “You will not need to go out looking for jobs; you will be creating them.”
The Dean of the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering, Prof. Julia Kigozi, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Vice Chancellor and the university management for their continued support toward the school’s initiatives. She noted that the exhibition was a reflection of the hard work and creativity of students who are being equipped not only with technical skills but also with the mindset to innovate and contribute meaningfully to industry. Prof. Kigozi highlighted that the school’s projects have significant potential for commercialization and industry collaboration, made possible through ongoing support and funding. She reaffirmed the school’s commitment to nurturing practical, industry-relevant training that empowers students to apply their knowledge beyond the classroom. “When you see the students out here working hard, they are very encouraged,” she said, adding that “what they are doing demonstrates a lot of potential for products to go out for commercialization and for creating training platforms that can support industry in various ways.”
Mr. Gilbert Buregyeya, Programs Lead of the Makerere Innovation and Incubation Centre (MIIC), commended the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering for its commitment to innovation and practical learning. He noted that the partnership between MIIC and the school has been instrumental in redesigning the curriculum to emphasize commercialization and market readiness of student projects. Highlighting ongoing efforts to make the certification process more accessible for young inventors, he revealed discussions with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) aimed at developing flexible, lower-cost certification pathways that allow students to test their products in the market.
Mr. Buregyeya further emphasized the importance of cross-college collaboration within the university, pointing to successful engagements with other colleges such as COFA and Queensland College. He expressed optimism that Makerere’s innovation ecosystem will soon produce groundbreaking, market-ready products capable of competing globally. “We are happy that the journey is underway this semester,” he said, adding that “our goal is to support young innovators to move from small markets to compete with the bigger ones outside, and to make certification and commercialization more attainable for students.”
Representing the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Prof. Edward Bbaale commended the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering for integrating innovation and entrepreneurship into academic training. He described the student exhibition as a celebration of “innovation, action, purpose and science that transforms,” noting that such initiatives align with national goals of value addition, sustainability, and community transformation. Prof. Bbaale emphasized that the showcased projects — spanning food, nutrition, and engineering — demonstrate how students are emerging as entrepreneurial learners and change agents addressing real-world challenges.
He acknowledged the Makerere Innovation and Incubation Centre (MIIC) for supporting student-led research and urged innovators to remain focused, ethical, and community-oriented in their ventures. Commending the mentors and staff for their guidance, he reaffirmed the university’s commitment to building a research-intensive, innovation-driven ecosystem that supports ideas from concept to commercialization. “Never involve yourself in a business when you are not serving a community problem,” he advised, adding that “you have shown resilience, creativity and passion — proving that innovation knows no bounds. The future belongs to those who are ready to build it.”
The exhibition concluded with the recognition of the top-performing student innovation groups, celebrating their creativity, technical skill, and market potential. Umoja Lacto Blend emerged as the Second Runner-Up, impressing judges with its unique product concept and strong value-addition focus. The First Runner-Up, Green Farm Tractor, showcased an innovative engineering solution designed to improve agricultural efficiency and accessibility for smallholder farmers. Taking the top spot was Agri Farm, whose outstanding innovation, clear business model, and readiness for market positioned them as the overall winners of the 2025 cohort. Their achievements reflected the high caliber of talent within SFTNB and the transformative potential of student-led entrepreneurship.
Agriculture & Environment
Vice Chancellor Closes International Conference on Food Systems Transformation for Climate Action
Certificates awarded to participants as Makerere reaffirms commitment to climate-smart agriculture
Makerere University has today October 29, 2025 closed the International Conference on Food Systems Transformation for Climate Action, with participants awarded certificates for their contribution and completion of the intensive two-day engagements. The conference brought together researchers, policymakers, students, and international partners to deliberate on how to transform food systems in the face of growing climate challenges.
Speaking at the closing ceremony held at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe commended the organizers and participants for their active engagement and commitment to addressing challenges in food systems and climate change.
“This training has been very useful. Every conference I attend teaches me something new, and I can see that this has been a rich learning experience for everyone here,” said Prof. Nawangwe. “We must continue to innovate and work closely with smallholder farmers to ensure that even the smallest pieces of land are used productively. Technology, artificial intelligence, and affordable irrigation systems can make a real difference.”
The Vice Chancellor emphasized the importance of turning university research into practical solutions that benefit communities, noting that Makerere’s scientists must go beyond publications to create commercial products and start enterprises that add value to their innovations.
“Our professors should not only retire on government pension but also on royalties from their innovations,” he added. “We must transform our research into products and services that create jobs and wealth.”
He further highlighted the importance of protecting intellectual property and promoting collaboration between universities and industries, drawing lessons from global examples such as Malaysia and China, where research and innovation have powered industrial growth.
Representing the Principal of CAES, Dr. Julia Kigozi, the Dean of the School of Food Technology, Nutrition, and Bioengineering, appreciated the Vice Chancellor for gracing the conference and commended participants for their enthusiasm.
“We explored challenges, trends, and opportunities in food systems and climate change, and this conference has given our researchers and PhD students valuable insights,” she said. “It reminded us that while challenges are shared across countries, we can each start small and still make a difference.”
Dr. John Baptist Tumuhairwe, one of the conveners, emphasized the importance of integrating climate action into food systems transformation, noting that the conference had strengthened Makerere’s networks in food and agricultural sciences.
“This meeting has expanded our collaborations and reaffirmed the university’s leadership in advancing sustainable food systems,” he said. “It was also deliberate in engaging the youth, who are our next generation of innovators.”
On behalf of the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), Dr. Haris Akram, the Program Manager, thanked Makerere University for hosting the international gathering and reiterated the need for continued collaboration.
“We must ask ourselves whether this workshop will make a difference in our lives and practices,” he remarked. “The real success lies in how we apply the knowledge gained to improve food security and sustainability.”
The conference, organized by Makerere University’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in partnership with OIC-COMSTECH, brought together experts from across Africa and Asia to share experiences on sustainable food production, agro-processing, and climate-smart innovations.
Officially closing the conference, Prof. Nawangwe in his remarks reaffirmed Makerere University’s commitment to leading research and innovation in agriculture, food systems, and climate resilience.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of our country and the most important driver of our future,” he concluded. “Let us put our heads and hands together to transform this sector and build a sustainable future for our people.”
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