_{By Louise Mwanyangapo}

30 April 2026, Kampala, Uganda — The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) marked a significant milestone following the signing of an addendum to the 2004 existing agreement with the Government of Uganda. The addendum is confirming the status of RUFORUM as an international organization with diplomatic status in Uganda. This noteworthy feat, a commitment made at its founding, strengthens the institutional foundation of RUFORUM as one of Africa’s influential academic network, signaling a renewed commitment to leverage the continent’s shared natural strength in agriculture and regional academic collaboration. By formalizing privileges and immunities for the Secretariat, the agreement is set to enhance RUFORUM’s operational efficiency, enabling it to better lead and coordinate research, partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives across its wide membership. It also reinforces Uganda’s role as a strategic hub for continental collaboration for agricultural innovation in higher education.

The agreement was signed by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Affairs, Honorable. John Mulimba, on behalf of the Government of Uganda, and Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, representing the RUFORUM Board.

Speaking at the signing, Hon. Mulimba described the addendum as a reflection of Makerere University and RUFORUM’s leadership in advancing agricultural science-driven research. He noted that the revised framework would enable member institutions within the RUFORUM network to better access the privileges and facilities needed to adequately support its programmes.

Prof. Nawangwe reaffirmed Uganda’s position as host of the RUFORUM Secretariat, highlighting the country’s unique and strategic role in driving and mobilizing agricultural innovation across the continent. He emphasized that the strengthened partnership would help address amongst others food security and job creation, which remain a concern for the continent. “Enhancing research collaboration is key to building sustainable agricultural systems and improving livelihoods,” Nawangwe said.

This development is particularly timely given RUFORUM’s buoyed growth and expanding mandate. Since its establishment in 2004, the network has grown to 175 universities across 40 countries, covering all five geographic regions of the continent. RUFORUM is therefore uniquely positioned to convene expertise, mobilize resources, and influence policy at both regional and continental levels. The strengthened legal and diplomatic framework will allow the Secretariat to more effectively serve this growing network and respond to emerging development priorities.

Understanding the significance of this milestone requires looking back at RUFORUM’s origins. Its predecessor, the Forum for Agricultural Resource Husbandry (FORUM), was established in 1992 to address critical gaps in agricultural research and postgraduate training in Eastern and Southern Africa. Through targeted investments in graduate education, institutional strengthening, and collaborative research, FORUM helped stabilize agricultural faculties, improved training quality, and fostered stronger links between universities and farming communities. These early achievements laid the groundwork for a more ambitious, African-led initiative.

Building on this foundation, RUFORUM’s first decade (2004–2014) focused on consolidating gains and expanding its reach.

RUFORUM has since significantly broadened both in scale and scope, expanding to all regions of Africa, diversified its programmes to include undergraduate training, entrepreneurship, technical and vocational education, and postdoctoral research, and deepened partnerships with continental bodies such as the African Union. By aligning its work with major frameworks like Agenda 2063 and The Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration, RUFORUM strengthened its relevance to Africa’s long-term development agenda. Flagship initiatives such as Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev) further demonstrated its commitment to transforming universities into engines of innovation, job creation, and inclusive growth. The network’s focus on interdisciplinary research, digital transformation, and inclusive development positions it to play an integral role in achieving continental goals, including the training of a new generation of scientists and the transition to resilient economies.

The signing of the addendum is a timely attainment that legitimizes and strengthens RUFORUM’s institutional standing and reinforces an Africa-led platform for development. In essence, the agreement equips RUFORUM with the tools and recognition that enables it to scale and deepen impact.

Article originally posted on RUFORUM