Business & Management
Makerere Presents Nepal’s Community Forest Management Model to Government Agencies
In 2023, the Ugandan team comprising Dr. Peter Babyenda of Makerere University EfD-Mak Centre, Christine Mugyenyi and Rukundo Tom from the National Forest Authority went to Nepal to study the Community Forest Management Model. The study tour was funded by EfD Global Hub and the National forestry Authority Uganda.
The study tour was one of the activities of EfD Forest Collaborative Peer Learning Project on Community Forestry aimed at deepening the understanding on community-based forestry management and sharing ideas and experiences regarding forestry among the participant countries.
This study was timely given the current efforts by Ugandan government to increase the forest cover to 24% by 2040. Through community forest management, the people of Nepal have been able to increase their forest cover to 45% from 29% in 1992.
As such, Nepal provides a practical example of how the community can be empowered to manage forests and significantly contribute to the general growth of forest cover in the county. The leadership of the forest user groups also act as training ground for the national leadership and as a result, the national leadership also participates in the sustainable utilization of forests.
Nepal presents an interesting scenario demystifying practices in many other countries where local people are seen as enemies of forests. Through Community Forest User Groups (CFUG), Nepal’s model demonstrates how local people, are at the forefront of protecting forests in Nepal.
The experiences from Nepal should act as the guide to successful forest management in other countries including Uganda. In addition, the study tour was informative with vast knowledge attained from different stakeholders on implementation of community forestry.
The study tour involved meetings with the different stakeholders, field visits in some of the community forests and experiencing the Nepalese culture through visiting religious and cultural sites. The 5 days program was under the guidance of the Forest Action – Nepal and coordinated by Professor Randy.
The tour started with the visit to Kalopani Community Forestry User Group (CFUG), which is in a mountainous site in Kavre District. The team visited a second CFUG on the way to our meeting with the Kavre Divisional Forestry Office, which has jurisdiction over Kalopani CFUG. The team also visited Kavre Divisional Forestry Office and held discussions with the Dean of the Tribhuvan University Institute of Forestry.
EfD-Mak centers disseminates study findings to government agencies
Research fellows from EfD-Mak centre from Makerere University on 27th February 2024, went to the Ministry of Water and Environment to disseminate information on lessons learnt from Nepal’s community forest management.
The workshop hosted by the ministry’s headquarters in Luzira, was attended by over 30 forestry officials from government ministries, departments and agencies including the National forest Authority, Uganda world life Authority and National Environmental Management Authority.
While officially opening the workshop on behalf of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Water and Environment, The Commissioner, Environment Sector Support Services Stephen Mugabi hailed the EfD Mak center for the continued partnership that was initiated with the ministry.
Noting that the mandate of managing the environment lies within the ministry, Mugabi said it was the right decision that the centre decided to link up with the ministry.
“When you generate information and you don’t share it, and archive it, it will not be useful. Once information is disseminated and gets to the stakeholders, they get knowledge that is then transformed into action. And the moment knowledge is transformed into action, then we see the knowledge changing livelihoods of communities”, He explained adding that:
“Today you have been recruited as ambassadors of the EfD-Mak Centre. You are receiving information how people in Nepal manage their forests and we expect you to disseminate it further to the people whom you live with.” Mugabi emphasised
Mugabi expressed the need for participants to understand the definitions of a community forest away from the standard definition of a forest on grounds that the way the community understands the forest is far different and has many values attached.
The Director EfD-Mak centre who is also Director, Directorate of Makerere University Graduate Research and Training Prof. Edward Bbaale appreciated the EfD Global hub funded by Sida, for sponsoring the Peer Learning Project for Community Forestry for policy makers and researchers, with a visit to Nepal.
“Today marks a significant moment as our colleagues share insights from their visit to Nepal’s community forest model, a success story empowering communities to manage nearby forests sustainably.
Nepal’s model granting legal rights to use and manage forest resources, stand as an exemplary solution against deforestation – a lesson we find particularly relevant given Uganda’s challenges”, Bbaale said.
Prof. Bbaale also noted that with 70% of the total forest cover under private land and the prevalent use of firewood and charcoal, Uganda faces alarming rates of forest losses.
“The presentation today is timely source of inspiration for policy makers and researchers, demonstrating the positive impact of involving local communities in decision making and forest management, addressing both environmental concerns and social inequalities,” Bbaale stressed.
He extended gratitude to the Ministry of Water and Environment for hosting the engagement at their headquarters and commended the enduring collaboration between EfD-Mak Centre and the Ministry.
Bbale also extended appreciation to the ministry and government for supporting the Inclusive Green Economy program for senior public servants. The Director, Stephen Mugabi represents the Ministry on the EfD-Mak Advisory Committee. The ministry appointed Commissioner Moreen Anino on the first cohort of the IGE fellows.
Uganda’s Inclusive Green Economy Engagement Specialist and research fellow Dr. Peter Babyenda said, in 2023, the team went for a study tour in Nepal to learn on the successful community forest management practices that Nepal had employed to increase their forest cover 29% in 1990 to 45% in 2013.
Contrary, Uganda’s forestry cover has decreased from 24% in 1990 to now 13% and, in 2010, the forest cover had further decreased to 9%.
He said, it was deemed appropriate to share the study findings with the ministry’s agencies who hold the country’s natural resources in trust of the people of Uganda.
“We learnt that that once you organise the people, tell them what to do and the importance and gains from the forest, they will take care of the forest, and if you do something detrimental to the forest, you are punished as a community member.
Communities that stay near forests have records of everyone including their photos and they will get to know who does what. They have a well organised inclusive leadership comprising 50% men and female, very transparent with books of accounts that are audited.
We even visited the university that trains leaders so they do capacity building of their leaders together with the department of forestry and wild life and ministry of forestry”, Babyenda explained.
Nepal has about 22,000 community forest user groups benefiting about 2.9million households. The community manages about 2.2million hectares of forest.
Babyenda reported that the community forest management model in Nepal has contributed to forest restoration and made it easy to mobilize the community to ensure that degraded forests are restored. This , he added was evidenced by the increase in the forest cover from 29% in 1992 to the current 45%.
The model according to Babyenda, has contributed to community infrastructure and livelihood benefits because CFUGs are used as a vehicle to community development evidenced by several community development projects seen.
Further, Babyenda explained that not only does Nepal’s model contribute to ecosystem functioning and protection, it has contributed to mitigation and adaptation to climate change largely, due to the maintenance of forests that absorb carbon but also regulates temperature.
“The model contributes to household income generation through the sale of forest products in a sustainable way. The households are aware of the consequences of mismanaging forests and thus utilize them in a sustainable way.
This is commendable and other countries like ours need to take lessons”. Babyenda noted and commended Nepal for the inclusive leadership with at least half of the leadership of the user groups being female.
Key Lessons from Nepal’s Community Forest Management Model for Uganda
The existence of a legal body, (FECOFUN- Federation for Community Forestry Users, Nepal) has enabled voicing the rights of community adjacent groups. The CSO has played a very important advocacy role on the rights of women, elders, and marginalized groups. It has also played an important role of influencing forest related polices in Nepal.
UNETCOFA a CSO was established in Uganda in 2006, to unite CFMs but lacked legal barking and has not done much work in relation to CFM networks. The lesson learnt is to involve the Ministry of Water and Environment to revive UNETCOFA.
FECOFUN has created a strong network with the CFUGs, and this enables the groups implement their roles and responsibilities which has minimized non-compliance to the operational plans of the community forests. Commitment by the CFUGs households to protect, restore and conserve forests has largely been informed by previous calamities like earthquakes and floods which is not the case for Uganda.
Value addition on forest products like timber, fodder and herbs has increased the income and created some jobs for the CFUGs.
Community Forestry in Nepal has thrived on many different models for instance knowledge production and knowledge use in forestry and the presence of homogenous society. Improving livelihoods where forest conservation meets the demands of local communities provides an overall incentive for sustainable conservation including safeguarding essential ecosystem services.
Having a dynamic, diverse, and respected leadership within community groups increases chances of success as is the case for some CFUGs in Nepal. Involvement of women in use of forest resources recognizes the importance of having women represented in decision- making and giving women a voice has allowed them to actively participate in conservation activities.
Benefit sharing through wealth ranking to target the poor for support is very key and can minimize elite capture. In addition, sharing of benefits/ income accrued from sale of forest products in percentages for instance 25% is invested in forest management was a key lesson to learn.
CFUGs coordination with local government to put up infrastructural development like schools or road construction from the income attained from the sale of forest resources was a key lesson learnt.
Community Forestry has contributed to ecosystem functioning through provision of fresh water supply to the households and for agricultural purposes. Most forest adjacent communities in Nepal access piped water from the forest for both domestic uses including watering animals and irrigation of crops. This has enabled conservation of water sources and regulation of waste discharge.
Alternative energy/ biomass source in Nepal is at 60%. People are increasingly using LPGs, electricity, petroleum gas etc. This has decreased fuelwood usage in Nepal. The lesson is that GoU need to reduce costs of gas and electricity to enable less dependency on fuelwood from forests.
Activities implemented during the study tour
Babyenda reported that, activities implemented during the Nepal study tour involved meeting the Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal (FECOFUN) executive members during which it was noted that FECOFUN was founded and legally recognized in July 1995 as a social movement organized which later became a civil society organization. It was formed after the legal recognition of Community Forestry in Nepal in 1992 and realization for the urgency to advocate for the rights of the people. It is established in all the 77 districts in the country with over 22,000 Community Forest User Groups are affiliated to FECOFUN and managing 2.2m ha that is; 25% of the forest cover which is contributed under community forestry of the overall forest cover of 45% with 2.9million H/Hs benefiting from community forestry.
The team also held a meeting with the departments of Forests and Soil Conservation-Nepal and Department of National Parks and Wildlife conservation. The forest management model indicated that Community Forests are part of the National Forests handed over to the traditional users for its conservation, utilization, and management guided by the Forest Act, 2076(2019AD), Forest Regulation 2079 (2023AD) and community guideline 2071.
The department guides the CFUG in facilitation done through formation of forest user groups and implementing biological diversity, conservation and climate change adaptation related activities and Legal support through identifying, developing, and managing potential forest areas in accordance with the prevailing laws, rules and policies, Community Forest user group registration and Community Forest handover.
Babyenda said the team made field visits to Kalapani community forest and in Shiba Community Forest and the CFUG members. The Community members mainly utilize forest resources like firewood, fodder, grass, timber, and medicinal plants and performs various roles.
In a meeting at the Institute of Forestry- Nepal with the Dean of forestry and the college staff. Babyenda explained that they shared information on Community forestry on how Community forestry has contributed to forest restoration, community infrastructure and livelihood benefits and ecosystem functioning among others.
Detailed report on study findings is attached.
Jane Anyango is the Communication Officer EfD Uganda
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE) at Makerere University is set to benefit from a grant under the World Bank-supported PIM-Plus Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening Public Investment Management Systems and enhancing the capacity for effective project planning, appraisal, implementation, and monitoring in Uganda.
Through the project, the Centre is expected to receive funding of approximately USD 8 million to support the construction of a modern teaching and residential facility. The proposed infrastructure is intended to enhance the Centre’s capacity to deliver high-quality training, research and technical advisory services in Public Investment Management (PIM) to government institutions and other stakeholders across the region and beyond.
The project’s construction activities are anticipated to commence in the next financial year following the completion of the necessary preparatory processes, including feasibility studies and project design.
As part of the ongoing project preparation activities, the PIM CoE today hosted a delegation of officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), who visited the Centre to assess progress made towards the implementation of the PIM-Plus Project. The visit provided an opportunity for the Ministry team to review the Centre’s readiness, discuss key project milestones, and identify areas requiring further attention to ensure timely project execution.
The Ministry delegation was led by Ms. Esther Ayebare, Ag. Assistant Commissioner, Public Investments and Project Analysis Department who commended the Centre for the progress registered thus far. She emphasized the importance of adhering to the project preparation timelines and urged the PIM CoE team to expedite the completion of the feasibility studies and other prerequisite activities necessary for project approval and commencement.
Ms. Ayebare noted that the successful implementation of the project will significantly strengthen the Centre’s role as a national and regional hub for capacity building, research and knowledge dissemination in Public Investment Management. She further underscored the Government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance the quality of public investments and contribute to improved service delivery and sustainable economic development.
The Director of the PIM Centre, Prof. Edward Bbaale reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to ensuring that all project preparation requirements are completed within the stipulated timelines. He noted that the planned facility will provide a conducive environment for training, accommodation and collaborative learning thereby strengthening the Centre’s ability to support the Country in developing and managing high-quality investment projects.
Dr. John Sseruyange, the Manager of the PIM Centre of Excellence emphasized that the Centre remains committed to delivering high-quality, demand-driven training courses that respond to the evolving needs of Public Investment Management practitioners and contribute to the successful implementation of Uganda’s Public Investment Management reform agenda. He further noted that the project will enable the Centre to effectively fulfil its mandate and contribute more meaningfully to addressing PIM capacity constraints in the region. The PIM-Plus Project forms part of broader efforts by the Government of Uganda and its development partners to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of public investments, ensuring that public resources are directed towards projects that deliver maximum socio-economic benefits for citizens.
Jinja | July 3, 2026
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), has graduated the fourth cohort of officers trained in Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis (IRCBA) and the preparation of Certificates of Financial Implications (CFIs), marking another milestone in strengthening evidence-based policymaking and fiscal governance in Uganda.
A total of 40 officers from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) successfully completed the intensive two-week Capacity Building Training on the Guidelines for Financial Clearance, culminating in the award of certificates during a closing ceremony held in Jinja.
The programme, jointly implemented by the PIM Centre of Excellence and the Ministry’s Infrastructure and Social Services Department (ISSD), equips public officers with practical skills to prepare robust Statements of Financial Implications that support the issuance of Certificates of Financial Implication (CFIs) in accordance with the revised Guidelines that came into effect on 1 July 2025.
Building a critical mass of public sector analysts
Representing the Ministry of Finance, Commissioner Henry Mwanja, Commissioner for the Infrastructure and Social Services Department, congratulated the participants for successfully completing the demanding programme despite their responsibilities related to implementation of the Fourth National Development Plan, the Tenfold Growth Strategy and the FY2026/27 Budget.
He described the revised Guidelines for the Issuance of Certificates of Financial Implication as a major reform aimed at making public policy development more transparent, consultative and analytically rigorous.
According to the Commissioner, participants are now better equipped to assess fiscal implications, evaluate broader economic impacts, identify distributional effects, manage uncertainty and undertake Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis in a structured and consistent manner.
However, he reminded participants that the value of the training would only be realised through practical application.
“The knowledge, tools and skills you have acquired must now be consistently applied in your day-to-day work. Analytical rigour must become routine practice, not an occasional exercise,” he emphasized.
He added that the Ministry would continue expanding the programme to train more officers across Government as part of efforts to institutionalize evidence-based policymaking and strengthen fiscal sustainability.
Participants urged to champion evidence-based policymaking
Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director of the PIM Centre of Excellence, commended participants for their dedication, discipline and active engagement throughout the programme.
He noted that the training had equipped participants with analytical tools to assess the financial, socio-economic, distributive and risk implications of proposed Bills, policies and legislation, enabling them to prepare stronger and more credible Statements of Financial Implications.
“The true success of this training will not be measured by the discussions held here, but by how effectively you apply this knowledge within your respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies,” Prof. Bbaale said.
He challenged participants to become ambassadors of Integrated Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis by promoting analytical rigour, mentoring colleagues and strengthening evidence-based decision-making across government institutions.
Prof. Bbaale also applauded the long-standing collaboration between Makerere University and the Ministry of Finance, describing it as a model partnership that successfully bridges academia and public service to strengthen public financial management in Uganda.
Beyond capacity building, he highlighted the Centre’s growing contribution to public investment reforms through research, policy advisory and technical support, including its role in revising Development Committee Guidelines and assessing Uganda’s public investment performance.
Highest-performing cohort celebrated
Speaking on behalf of the PIM Centre of Excellence, Dr. John Sseruyange, Manager of the Centre, thanked the Ministry of Finance, particularly the Infrastructure and Social Services Department, for its continued partnership in implementing the programme.
He observed that each successive cohort had benefited from continuous improvements in the curriculum and delivery of the training.
Dr. Sseruyange also applauded the PIM Centre faculty, facilitators from the Ministry of Finance, Uganda Development Bank (UDB) and the Office of the Prime Minister, as well as the communications, administrative and logistical teams whose efforts contributed to the success of the programme.
He reserved special praise for the participants, describing them as one of the most engaged groups the Centre has trained.
“They asked thoughtful questions, managed time exceptionally well and demonstrated remarkable commitment throughout the two weeks,” he said.
Dr. Sseruyange revealed that the fourth cohort had achieved the highest average assessment score among all the cohorts trained so far, attributing the performance to participants’ attentiveness and dedication.
He encouraged the graduates to continue practising the analytical skills acquired during the training, assuring them that the PIM Centre of Excellence would remain available to provide technical support whenever needed.
“Keep improving yourselves. When you improve your skills, your institutions benefit from your expertise,” he advised.
Participants applaud facilitators
Delivering remarks on behalf of the trainees, Baguma Asuman expressed gratitude to the Government, sponsors and facilitators for delivering what he described as an enriching and transformative learning experience.
He noted that despite the intensive nature of the programme, participants had gained practical knowledge that would significantly improve the preparation of Statements of Financial Implications.
Baguma commended the facilitators for patiently responding to every question raised during the sessions and ensuring that every participant fully understood the concepts taught.
He also thanked fellow participants for their active contributions and encouraged them to apply the knowledge gained in their respective institutions to improve public policy analysis and financial planning.
The participants further appreciated the organizers and hotel management for the excellent coordination and hospitality throughout the two-week residential programme.
The ceremony concluded with the award of certificates to the 29 participants, marking the successful completion of the fourth cohort and reaffirming the commitment of Makerere University and the Ministry of Finance to building a cadre of public officers capable of strengthening evidence-based policymaking, improving fiscal discipline and enhancing the quality of public investment decisions in Uganda.
Makerere University Environment for Development Initiative (EfD- Mak Centre) has graduated five senior government officials under the 2025 Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) Fellowship Programme, equipping them with advanced knowledge and skills to champion climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and sustainable development in Uganda.
The fellows graduated during a ceremony held on Thursday June 25, 2026 at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute, Kabanyolo (MUARIK), where university leaders, government representatives, development partners, researchers and policymakers gathered to celebrate the completion of the year-long training programme.
The graduates included Eng. Thomas Epeet from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries; Ms. Getrude Basiima, a Commissioner in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Mr. Nicholas Magara from the Ministry of Water and Environment; Ms. Irene Kemigisha from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development; and Mr. Boaz Tumusiime Mboijana from the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities.
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Professor Robert Wamala congratulated the fellows for successfully completing what he described as a rigorous and impactful programme that lasted one year.
“Today’s graduation is more than a celebration of academic achievement. It is a testament to our collective commitment to building the knowledge, skills and partnerships required to address one of the defining challenges of our time — climate change and its effects on agriculture, livelihoods and sustainable development,” Wamala said.
He noted that the 2025 cohort undertook training under the theme, “Accelerating the Adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture,” which aligns closely with Makerere University‘s research agenda on agricultural transformation, food security and livelihoods.
According to Wamala, climate variability and environmental degradation continue to threaten agricultural production, food security and rural livelihoods, making the need for innovative, evidence-based and scalable solutions increasingly urgent.
Through the fellowship, participants gained practical exposure to climate-smart irrigation technologies, resilient farming systems, soil and water conservation practices, and other innovations aimed at strengthening agricultural productivity and resilience.
“The experiences have equipped our fellows not only with technical competencies but also with the capacity to translate knowledge into practical solutions for communities and institutions,” he said.
The programme is implemented by the Environment for Development (EfD) Initiative through the EfD-Makerere Centre and is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). It seeks to strengthen evidence-based policymaking by bridging the gap between research and policy while promoting the use of economic policy instruments to support a just green transition.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Edward Bbaale, Director of the EfD-Makerere Centre and Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences(CoBAMS), said the fellowship targets senior civil servants and policymakers from Eastern Africa to strengthen their capacity to formulate and implement green economy policies.
“The goal is to promote the use of economic policy instruments to achieve a just green transition. The programme bridges gaps between research and policy and between researchers and policymakers to strengthen evidence-based decision-making,” Bbaale said.
Since its inception, the programme has trained 30 senior policymakers drawn from ministries, departments and agencies across the region.
Bbaale said, one of the programme’s unique features is its regional approach, which enables fellows from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and South Africa to share experiences and learn from one another’s policy interventions.
“We are able to learn from what other governments are doing in these Eastern African countries, compare with our policy environment and identify solutions that can work back home,” he said.
The 2025 cohort focused on accelerating climate-smart agriculture adoption, a priority area as governments seek to mitigate the impacts of climate change on food production and rural livelihoods.
Bbaale announced that the next cohort, to be recruited later this year, will focus on forestry and water management. The programme intends to recruit five additional senior government officials from institutions including the Ministry of Water and Environment, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the National Planning Authority (NPA), and the Ministry of Finance.
Host institution MUARIK also used the occasion to highlight its contribution to agricultural research and innovation.
Welcoming guests to the institute, MUARIK Director Dr. Peter Ebanyat described the facility as a leading centre for agricultural research, training and innovation whose history dates back to 1953.
He noted that the institute has played a significant role in developing agricultural technologies that have had national impact, including the development of soybean varieties grown across Uganda.
“Our vision is to be a thought leader in sustainable agricultural and environmental innovations. Our mission is to generate and disseminate knowledge, innovations and technologies through research, training and community engagement for improved agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability and rural livelihoods,” Ebanyat said.
He said hosting the graduation was particularly significant because MUARIK serves as a living laboratory where researchers, students, policymakers and development practitioners interact to generate solutions to challenges facing the agricultural sector.
The graduation ceremony underscored the growing importance of partnerships among universities, governments and development agencies in addressing climate change, promoting food security and advancing inclusive green growth across Uganda and the wider East African region.
As the fellows return to their respective institutions, university leaders challenged them to become ambassadors of climate-smart agriculture and champions of sustainable development, using the knowledge acquired through the programme to influence policies, strengthen resilience and improve livelihoods in their sectors.
The Inclusive Green Economy Fellowship Programme will continue until 2027 under Sida funding, with Makerere University remaining one of the key regional centres driving research, policy engagement and capacity building for sustainable development.
Graduating Fellows Call for Stronger Climate-Smart Agriculture Policies
Senior government officials who completed Makerere University‘s IGE Fellowship Programme called for stronger policy interventions, increased investment and wider public awareness to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart agriculture in Uganda.
The senior civil servants highlighted climate change as a growing threat to agriculture, food security and rural livelihoods.
Speaking on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony, Makerere University‘s Policy Engagement Specialist and coordinator of the programme, Dr. Peter Babyenda, said the 2025 cohort focused on developing policy instruments that can accelerate the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices across the country.
“This cohort has been looking at accelerating the adoption of climate-smart agriculture because agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy and one of the sectors most affected by climate change,” Babyenda said.
He explained that the year-long fellowship trains senior civil servants and policymakers to design economic and policy incentives that promote environmentally sustainable development.
According to Babyenda, previous cohorts focused on issues such as clean cooking energy, biomass reduction and electric mobility, while the latest group examined how government can encourage farmers to adopt climate-smart technologies such as solar-powered irrigation systems and sustainable farming practices.
“We have trained them on how to design policy packages and interventions that encourage adoption of climate-smart agriculture and improve resilience among farming communities,” he said.
The graduation brought the number of fellows trained under the Sida-funded programme to 30 since its inception. The initiative is implemented by Makerere University‘s Environment for Development (EfD) Centre in partnership with the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
Babyenda revealed that the next cohort, expected to be recruited later this year, will focus on forestry and water management as part of efforts to reduce emissions and strengthen climate resilience.
He also disclosed that Makerere University is considering upgrading the fellowship into an academic programme offering diploma and master’s qualifications in green economy studies.
“We are already developing a curriculum. The idea is to transform this capacity-building programme into an academic award programme that could eventually offer both diploma and master’s degrees in green economy,” he said.
Representing the graduating fellows, Engineer Thomas Epeet from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries said climate-smart agriculture is critical to safeguarding Uganda’s agricultural sector against the effects of climate variability.
“Agriculture contributes significantly to employment, rural livelihoods and the country’s GDP. However, prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall patterns are threatening production, making climate-smart agriculture more important than ever,” Epeet said.
The fellows identified weak extension services, limited awareness, counterfeit agricultural inputs and inadequate access to modern technologies as some of the major barriers to the adoption of climate-smart agriculture.
Epeet said the cohort’s research found that women farmers face particular challenges, including limited access to land ownership and agricultural resources, which affects their ability to adopt climate-smart practices.
He called for stronger involvement of the private sector in supplying quality agricultural technologies and inputs needed to support sustainable farming.
“The private sector has a critical role in providing irrigation equipment, improved seeds and other technologies that farmers need. Without a strong private sector, government interventions alone may not achieve the desired impact,” he said.
Nicholas Magara, Acting Assistant Commissioner in the Ministry of Water and Environment, said the training had equipped him with practical knowledge on how economic incentives can be used to address climate-related challenges.
He noted that environmental degradation, including forest and wetland destruction, continues to affect rainfall patterns and agricultural productivity.
“As policymakers, we must encourage farmers not to depend solely on natural weather patterns. Technologies such as irrigation, mulching and minimum tillage are becoming increasingly important in ensuring year-round production,” Magara said.
He recommended expanding the programme to accommodate more participants and upgrading it from a certificate programme to a diploma-level qualification.
“The content is extensive and highly professional. It deserves a higher academic recognition,” he added.
Irene Kemigisha, an economist from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, emphasized the need to strengthen land tenure security, particularly for women, to improve access to credit and increase investment in climate-smart agriculture.
She said many women are unable to access agricultural financing because they lack land ownership documents that financial institutions require as collateral.
“We need to ensure that women have secure land rights and access to affordable agricultural credit if we are serious about increasing adoption of climate-smart agriculture,” Kemigisha said.
She also called for stronger agricultural extension services and improved market access for farmers to ensure that increased productivity translates into higher incomes.
Meanwhile, Boaz Tumusiime from the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities said the programme had highlighted the strong links between climate change, agriculture and tourism.
He said participants discovered that many climate-smart solutions already exist, but limited dissemination of information continues to slow adoption.
“Our transformative initiative focused on improving access to information and climate-smart solutions because the biggest challenge is often the gap between researchers, policymakers and the public,” Tumusiime said.
He praised the programme’s regional approach, which allows participants from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia to share experiences and learn from successful policies implemented across East Africa.
The fellows urged government, development partners and academic institutions to expand climate-smart agriculture training beyond senior civil servants to include private sector actors and grassroots agricultural practitioners.
They argued that broader participation would help accelerate the adoption of sustainable farming practices needed to strengthen food security, improve rural livelihoods and support Uganda’s climate adaptation efforts.
Panelists Call for Climate-Smart Agriculture Integration
The graduation ceremony was also marked by a roundtable discussion moderated by Prof. Edward Bbaale.and focused on how Uganda can integrate climate-smart agriculture into its national development agenda. The dialogue brought together leading academics, policymakers and development practitioners to explore strategies for sustainable agricultural transformation.
Key discussants included Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of Research, Innovations and Partnerships at Makerere University; Michael Ahimbisibwe from the National Planning Authority (NPA), representing Dr. Ronald Kaggwa; Victor Olejje from SunCulture Uganda; Wilson Asiimwe from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, representing Dr. Sam Koojo; and Robert Turyakira from AGHNET.
The discussions highlighted Makerere University‘s commitment to research translation and intellectual property protection, the National Planning Authority’s emphasis on climate-smart agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, and the Ministry of Finance’s focus on integrated financing and market alignment. The panel also underscored the importance of ensuring that climate-smart interventions are properly costed, financed and implemented.
Responding to a question on how Makerere University is strengthening the translation of research into climate-smart solutions, Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of Research, Innovations and Partnerships at Makerere University, explained that the institution coordinates research across its nine colleges under strategic themes, including agricultural transformation. He noted that Makerere has established an Innovation and Technology Support Centre to help researchers protect intellectual property, build industry partnerships, and commercialize innovations.
“We are developing a Research Impact Framework so that every project considers its long-term effect on policy and community livelihoods right from the design stage,” Prof. Wamala said.
He added, “An idea is not truly yours until it is protected,” emphasizing the importance of patents and copyrights in transforming research into sustainable livelihoods.
Addressing the role of climate-smart agriculture in advancing Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, Michael Ahimbisibwe, representing the National Planning Authority, emphasized that climate-smart agriculture is central to both the strategy and Uganda’s Vision 2040. He outlined its contribution to ensuring sustainable raw material supplies, building resilience to climate change, enhancing export competitiveness, supporting inclusive livelihoods and unlocking access to green financing.
“By embedding these approaches, agriculture becomes the backbone of our growth strategy,” Ahimbisibwe said, pointing to drought-tolerant crop varieties, water harvesting technologies, and compliance with international trade standards as critical interventions.
Responding to a question on how public investment and financing mechanisms can support climate-smart agriculture, Wilson Asiimwe from the Ministry of Finance argued that climate-smart agriculture must be approached holistically, with policies integrated across sectors. He explained that government investments, such as valley dams for livestock production, should be aligned with existing development programmes, while additional financing can be mobilized through carbon credit schemes, climate funds, and international grants.
“Productivity must be matched with markets; otherwise, we risk food mountains with no buyers,” Asiimwe cautioned.
He further noted that emerging export regulations, such as the European Union’s deforestation requirements, make climate-smart agricultural practices essential not only for environmental sustainability but also for maintaining trade competitiveness.
Explaining how planning processes ensure that interventions are properly costed and implemented, Ahimbisibwe further noted that planning serves as the bridge between policy and financing. Under Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, the government employs a programme-based approach, with agro-industrialization identified as a key programme. Each programme includes costed interventions that are monitored annually through compliance assessment mechanisms.
“This way, climate-smart agriculture is not just a policy idea but a funded and monitored reality,” he said, stressing that planning ensures government allocations, releases, and expenditures remain aligned with national development priorities.
The panel underscored a shared vision in which Makerere University drives research translation and intellectual property protection, the National Planning Authority positions climate-smart agriculture as a pillar of economic growth, the Ministry of Finance ensures integrated financing and market alignment, and planning frameworks guarantee effective implementation of costed interventions. Together, these efforts aim to embed climate-smart agriculture at the heart of Uganda’s long-term development strategy.
Compiled and written by Jane Anyango, Communication Officer
Photo Credits: Peninah Nalubega
(Fourth-Year Journalism and Communication Student)
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General1 week agoMakerere University Launches First Writing Summer School
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General2 weeks agoPress Statement: Makerere University Launches Ambitious Strategic Plan 2026–2030
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Health1 week agoMakerere University becomes Africa’s new nerve centre in the fight against Ebola