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Combating Child Malnutrition in the Face of Climate Change: Mak’s Healthy Soy Initiative Offers Hope

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Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The project team led by Prof. Benedikte Grenov and Prof. Phinehas Tukamuhabwa during the inception meeting at CAES on 15th August 2025.

*****Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, the Healthy Soy Project seeks to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions. The Project inception meeting was held on 15th August 2025 at CAES, Makerere University.

Overview

Child malnutrition remains one of the most pressing public health challenges worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 148 million children under the age of five were affected by stunting in 2023, a condition caused by chronic under-nutrition that impairs both physical and cognitive development. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 aims to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030, but climate change, rising food insecurity, and deepening inequality are making this goal increasingly difficult to achieve.

The Dean, School of Agricultural Sciences, Dr John Baptist Tumuhairwe delivering welcome remarks on behalf of the Principal of CAES, Makerere University. Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The Dean, School of Agricultural Sciences, Dr John Baptist Tumuhairwe delivering welcome remarks on behalf of the Principal of CAES, Makerere University.

Expert reports indicate that as the global climate crisis accelerates, its ripple effects are being felt most acutely in the Global South. Prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and frequent natural disasters are reducing crop yields, diminishing nutrient density in food, and driving up food prices. For smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of food production in many developing countries, these changes are devastating. Without the resources to invest in irrigation or climate-adaptive technologies, they are hit hardest by agricultural losses.

The burden of climate-induced food insecurity and malnutrition is not shared equally. Children are particularly vulnerable, as their growth demands a consistent intake of high-quality nutrients. Women, meanwhile, are doubly impacted. They are often both food producers and the primary caregivers responsible for child nutrition. These gendered and generational inequalities are deepening as food systems falter under environmental stress.

Some of the project partners that participated in the inception meeting. Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Some of the project partners that participated in the inception meeting.

Stunting and the Need for High-Quality Protein

Stunting in children is one of the most visible forms of malnutrition. Once it occurs, reversing it is challenging, though not impossible. For children affected by stunting to catch up in growth, their diets must include high-quality proteins, which are essential for muscle and tissue development.

Animal-source foods such as milk, eggs, and meat provide proteins with the highest biological value. However, in low-income settings, these foods are often prohibitively expensive or unavailable. Soybeans offer a promising alternative – they are a plant-based source of relatively high-quality protein, widely grown and consumed in many parts of the world. However, soy is not without limitations. Its protein bioavailability can be reduced by natural compounds known as anti-nutrients, which inhibit digestion and absorption.

Prof. Benedikte Grenov, the Principal Investigator, delivered a comprehensive overview of the project. Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Benedikte Grenov, the Principal Investigator, delivered a comprehensive overview of the project.

The Healthy Soy Project: A Science-Based Solution for Sustainable Nutrition

In response to this challenge, Makerere University, in collaboration with partners and with funding from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) has launched an innovative research project titled Climate-resilient soybean for improved growth and health of children in Uganda (Healthy Soy). This multi-year project seeks to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions. The University of Copenhagen, Denmark is leading the project, with Makerere University and RECO Industries Limited as partners. The overall PI of the Project is Prof. Benedikte Grenov from the University of Copenhagen. At Makerere University, the project is coordinated by Prof. Phinehas Tukamuhabwa. Other project members include Assoc. Prof. Nanna Roos and Prof. Inge Tetens from the University of Copenhagen; Assoc. Prof. Dorothy Nakimbugwe and Assoc. Prof. Ezekiel Mupere from Makerere University; Mr. Alex Kisembo from RECO Industries Limited; and Prof. Daniel Tomé from Université Paris-Saclay, France.

Prof. Phinehas Tukamuhabwa, Coordinator of the Healthy Soy Project sharing his views at the meeting. Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Phinehas Tukamuhabwa, Coordinator of the Healthy Soy Project sharing his views at the meeting.

The Healthy Soy project is structured around four key work packages

WP1 – Selecting Climate-Resilient, Nutrient-Rich Soybean Varieties

Researchers will identify and develop soybean strains that are both resilient to climate stressors and contain high levels of protein with reduced anti-nutrient content, making them more suitable for vulnerable populations.

WP2 – Enhancing Protein Bioavailability through Food Processing

Advanced food processing technologies will be employed to reduce anti-nutrient levels and improve the bioavailability of soy protein. The project will also evaluate how effectively soy protein supports catch-up growth in children affected by stunting.

Dr. Jenipher Bisikwa, Prof. John Muyonga, and Prof. Benedikte Grenov following the proceedings of the meeting. Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Dr. Jenipher Bisikwa, Prof. John Muyonga, and Prof. Benedikte Grenov following the proceedings of the meeting.

WP3 – Developing Local Soy-Based Food Supplements

Working closely with local communities and food producers, the project will design and test new soy-based supplements tailored to local dietary habits. These products will be tested for their impact on child health and growth.

WP4 – Building Local Research Capacity and Sharing Knowledge

Capacity-building is a core element of Healthy Soy. The project will invest in training Ugandan researchers, strengthening local institutions, and disseminating findings to farmers, policymakers, health professionals, and other stakeholders across the region. At Makerere University, the project is supporting 3 PhD fellows namely: Ms. Nashim Nassanga from the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Mr. Amos Asiimwe from the Department of Food Technology and nutrition, and Ms. Prudence Ainomugisha from the College of Health Sciences. Ms. Nassanga will focus on identifying climate-smart soybean breeding lines for adaptability and farmers’ acceptability under severe climate conditions in Eastern, Northern, and Western Uganda; Mr. Asiimwe will develop soybean processing protocols to reduce anti-nutrients, improve soy protein bioavailability, and estimate its potential to support catch-up growth in children with stunting; and Prudence Ainomugisha will examine the effects of locally produced soy-based LNS on the growth and health of children with stunting.

Dr. Ephraim Nuwamanya shared insights into the ongoing research activities of MAKCSID, particularly focused on developing climate-resilient soybean varieties. Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Dr. Ephraim Nuwamanya shared insights into the ongoing research activities of MAKCSID, particularly focused on developing climate-resilient soybean varieties.

The Healthy Soy Project Inception Meeting

On 15th August 2025, the project team held an inception meeting to discuss strategies for its implementation. The session brought together representatives from all partner institutions who shared a detailed overview of their respective roles, and expected contributions to the initiative. The discussions focused on aligning stakeholder roles, clarifying project objectives, and ensuring a coordinated approach to execution.

During the meeting, Prof. Benedikte Grenov, the Principal Investigator, delivered a comprehensive overview of the project. She emphasized the collaborative nature of the project and highlighted the importance of each stakeholder’s role in achieving the intended outcomes. Her presentation set the stage for subsequent contributions from each partner institution, outlining their respective roles and planned activities within the project.

Mr. Alex Kisembo from RECO Industries Limited shared their experience in soybean processing and outlined their planned contribution to the project’s product development streams. Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Mr. Alex Kisembo from RECO Industries Limited shared their experience in soybean processing and outlined their planned contribution to the project’s product development streams.

Dr Mildred Ochwo Ssemakula, Prof. John Muyonga, and Dr Robert Mugabi from Makerere University Departments of Crop Science and Horticulture, and Food Technology and Nutrition respectively, briefed the team on their (Departments’) role in the soybean value chain, while Dr  Ephraim Nuwamanya from the Makerere University Centre for Soybean Improvement and Development (MAKCSID) shared insights into their ongoing research activities, particularly focused on developing climate-resilient soybean varieties and how these efforts align with the goals of the Healthy Soy Project.  The meeting also featured a presentation on the activities of the Child Health Development Centre (CHDC) and its role in the project. Based within the College of Health Sciences at Makerere University, the CHDC will support the training of a full-time PhD fellow who will coordinate and implement a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) involving 300 children affected by stunting.

The representative from RECO Industries Limited, Mr. Alex Kisembo shared their experience in soybean processing and outlined their planned contribution to the project’s product development streams. Additionally, the integration of the Healthy Soy initiative into the national nutrition programming was discussed, with an emphasis on aligning it with priority areas within the health sector. The roles of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) were also presented, particularly focusing on their support for soybean development through policy formulation, quality assurance, and regulatory processes, as well as their planned contributions to the project’s implementation.

Prof. John Muyonga delivering a presentation on the expected output of the Healthy Soy Food Science research. Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. John Muyonga delivering a presentation on the expected output of the Healthy Soy Food Science research.

Prof. Charles Masembe briefed participants on the reporting and accountability procedures of the Makerere University Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU).

The meeting was moderated by Prof. Phinehas Tukamuhabwa and Dr Jenipher Bisikwa from the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University.

Prof. Charles Masembe briefing the team about the Makerere University Grants Administration and Management Support Unit reporting and accountability processes. Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Charles Masembe briefing the team about the Makerere University Grants Administration and Management Support Unit reporting and accountability processes.
Dr. Mildred Ochwo Ssemakula addressing the team on the operations of the Crop Science and Horticulture Department at Makerere University. Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Dr. Mildred Ochwo Ssemakula addressing the team on the operations of the Crop Science and Horticulture Department at Makerere University.
Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
A representative from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards presenting about the quality assurance processes.
The Assistant Commissioner in charge of Seed Inspection and Certification at MAAIF, Dr Mary Teddy Asio delivering a presentation on the operations of the Ministry. Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The Assistant Commissioner in charge of Seed Inspection and Certification at MAAIF, Dr Mary Teddy Asio delivering a presentation on the operations of the Ministry.
The PhD students supported by the Project, Mr Amos Asiimwe, Ms. Nashim Nassanga, and Ms. Prudence Ainomugisha with Prof. Benedikte Grenov and her colleague from the University of Copenhagen. Inception meeting for Healthy Soy Project Funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through DANIDA, to develop sustainable, affordable, and nutritious soy-based food solutions to help combat stunting in Uganda and other climate-vulnerable regions, 15th August 2025, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The PhD students supported by the Project, Mr Amos Asiimwe, Ms. Nashim Nassanga, and Ms. Prudence Ainomugisha with Prof. Benedikte Grenov and her colleague from the University of Copenhagen.

Link to project inception meeting pictorial:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oTo8rhX89Nt1uXy3W0vVRUWkz5vi8WGg?usp=sharing

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Call for Applications: QCF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

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2 weeks ago

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January 20, 2026

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Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, Principal of CAES plants a tree to signify the launch of the 30-acre Botanical Gardens at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK). Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) Wakiso Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University’s Department of Geography, Geo-informatics and Climatic Sciences in partnership with Quadrature Climate Foundation and Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre are seeking two fellows for Quadrature Climate Foundation (QCF) Fellowship Programme. This is a two-year post-doctoral programme fully funded by QCF, which is an independent charitable foundation working for a greener and fairer future. Applications for the two-year post-doctoral fellowship are invited from individuals with demonstrated interest and expertise in locally led adaptation to climate change research. This initiative is a unique and excellent opportunity to expand the network of interested individuals with researchers and decision-makers, as well as deliver action-oriented research to inform policy and practice. Depending on their interest, each applicant should choose one of the two thematic areas offered under the fellowship program:

  1. Knowledge co-creation for locally led adaptation to climate change
  2. Decentralised decision making for effective climate change adaptation and resilience

The Fellow working on the Thematic Area 1: knowledge co-creation for locally adaptation will explore collaborative learning processes (including informal learning) for climate change adaptation among smallholder farmers with focus on Uganda, with linkages to related work in Bangladesh, Mozambique and Nepal. The overall intention is to generate understanding of how decision making processes, across scales, can be linked to local and context specific knowledge systems and process for epistemic just adaptation. The key research questions are:

  • What does the process of co-creating knowledge for locally led climate change adaptation look like in a rural smallholder farming setting of a Least Developed Country (LDC)?
  • What are the possibilities, promises and pitfalls of knowledge co-creation for locally led adaptation planning?

The research will intentionally contribute to methodological and practice advances in co-creation of knowledge for locally led climate change adaptation.

The research on Thematic Area 2: decentralised decision making for effective adaptation and resilience will undertake scientific interrogation of a climate finance mechanism that has been designed for locally led adaptation and resilience in Uganda. The Fellow will largely focus on testing selected assumptions behind the design of the mechanism. The key questions are:

  • How does effective locally led climate change adaptation and resilience building investment decision making look like in practice?
  • What works and how does it work? What does not work and why?

Key considerations in the research will include local leadership, inclusion, context specificity, cross-scale, and capability strengthening. The targeted contributions of the fellowship include improved knowledge management for climate resilience planning and decision-making, strengthened evidence-based research-policy-practice dialogues, framework(s) for integrating local and experiential knowledges in resilience building investment decision making processes, among others.

The Fellows will be based, full-time, at Makerere University, Kampala as a core member of the team working on locally led adaptation and resilience. Their work will be conducted under the auspices of the Least Developed Countries Universities Consortium on Climate Change (LUCCC) through which Makerere University is engaged in research and knowledge management collaborations. The Fellowships will focus on Uganda, but with deliberate linkages across LDCs, which might necessitate travels for in-person working meetings.

Roles and responsibilities of the Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The Fellow will be highly motivated to work with a transdisciplinary research team, grow their research expertise, engage with climate change researchers, decision-makers, practitioners and generate different categories of publications. Makerere University will appoint a locally based mentor to the Fellow to provide professional development support. Where needed, the Fellow will participate in teaching and community outreach activities including knowledge sharing in ways that foster collaborative research for adaptation policy and practice.

Requirements:

  • A PhD, awarded within the previous three years, in a related discipline (e.g., geography, climate and society, sustainability, adaptation governance, epistemic justice, climate finance).
  • Knowledge and experience of locally led adaptation in the agriculture sector.
  • Experience in synthesizing and managing datasets and literature.
  • Experience in, and knowledgeable of, participatory and collaborative action-oriented research methodologies and tools.
  • Demonstrated ability to produce research information products for different audiences.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
  • Demonstrated interest and experience in transdisciplinary collaborations across-scales including with local communities, decision-makers and practitioners in LDCs
  • Experience in giving international oral presentations and interest in public communication for wide-ranging categories of audiences
  • Data and information visualisation skills will be an added advantage

Application requirements:

Applicants should submit a single PDF with: (i) an application letter not longer than 2 pages that includes indication of theme of interest, a description of research interests, research expertise, and an explanation of how they can work as part of the transdisciplinary research team in line with the fellowship objectives described above; (ii) a CV including a publication list; (iii) copies of academic transcripts and/or certificates; (iv) an example of written work; (v) email addresses of two references who have been directly involved in their PhD research.

Applicants must submit the PDF application document to colocal.caes@mak.ac.ug. Please type “LUCCC PDR Application: COLOCAL-Makerere” as the subject line of the email.

Closing date

Midnight (GMT+3) on 27th February, 2026 or until the position is filled.

Selection process

Eligible and complete applications will be considered followed by communication with short-listed applicants. Makerere University, in consultation with Quadrature Climate Foundation and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, will conduct interviews of the short-listed applicants.

If you have not heard from Makerere University within two months of the deadline, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Contact details for enquiries about this post-doc fellowship: colocal.caes@mak.ac.ug

Makerere University reserves the right to

  • Disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications;
  • Change the conditions of the award or to make no awards at all

-The QCF Fellowship Programme is a two-year, post-doctoral programme fully funded by Quadrature Climate Foundation (QCF).

-Quadrature Climate Foundation is an independent charitable foundation working for a greener and fairer future. For more information on QCF, please visit qc.foundation.

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Hasifa Kabejja

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Agriculture & Environment

Mak-CAES Trains Small-Scale Processors on Soybean Value Addition & Product Development

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2 months ago

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December 16, 2025

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The trainees at the School of Food Technology, Nutrition, and Bioengineering at Makerere University. Department of Food Technology and Nutrition (DFTN) in collaboration with Smart Foods Uganda Ltd five-day intensive training on soybean value addition and product development 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, 24th to 28th November 2025, Makerere University Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre (FTBIC), Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

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.

Some of the Processors during the training in the Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre at Makerere University. Department of Food Technology and Nutrition (DFTN) in collaboration with Smart Foods Uganda Ltd five-day intensive training on soybean value addition and product development 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, 24th to 28th November 2025, Makerere University Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre (FTBIC), Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Some of the Processors during the training in the Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre at Makerere University.

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.

Some of the products developed. Department of Food Technology and Nutrition (DFTN) in collaboration with Smart Foods Uganda Ltd five-day intensive training on soybean value addition and product development 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, 24th to 28th November 2025, Makerere University Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre (FTBIC), Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Some of the products developed.

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 yoghurt produced during the training session. Department of Food Technology and Nutrition (DFTN) in collaboration with Smart Foods Uganda Ltd five-day intensive training on soybean value addition and product development 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, 24th to 28th November 2025, Makerere University Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre (FTBIC), Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The yoghurt produced during the training session.

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 participants in one of the training sessions. Department of Food Technology and Nutrition (DFTN) in collaboration with Smart Foods Uganda Ltd five-day intensive training on soybean value addition and product development 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, 24th to 28th November 2025, Makerere University Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre (FTBIC), Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The participants in one of the training sessions.

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Agriculture & Environment

Department of Tourism Hosts Prof. Sofia Asonitou

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2 months ago

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December 12, 2025

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The team poses for a group photo at the School of Forestry, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences at CAES. Department of Tourism, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) hosts Prof. Sofia Asonitou from the University of West Attica, Greece, also Regional Coordinator for the Sub-Saharan Africa region under the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) framework at her institution. 11 December 2025, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

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 team during their meeting at the Department of Tourism at CAES. Department of Tourism, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) hosts Prof. Sofia Asonitou from the University of West Attica, Greece, also Regional Coordinator for the Sub-Saharan Africa region under the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) framework at her institution. 11 December 2025, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
The team during their meeting at the Department of Tourism at CAES.

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. Jim Ayorekire receives a souvenir from Prof. Sofia Asonitou. Department of Tourism, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) hosts Prof. Sofia Asonitou from the University of West Attica, Greece, also Regional Coordinator for the Sub-Saharan Africa region under the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) framework at her institution. 11 December 2025, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
Prof. Jim Ayorekire receives a souvenir from Prof. Sofia Asonitou.

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 team at the School of Forestry, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences at CAES. Department of Tourism, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) hosts Prof. Sofia Asonitou from the University of West Attica, Greece, also Regional Coordinator for the Sub-Saharan Africa region under the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) framework at her institution. 11 December 2025, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
The team at the School of Forestry, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences at 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.

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