Members of the Kyambogo University 6th Council
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Addressing agribusiness challenges in Uganda will require stronger alliances among universities, farmers, processors, traders and policymakers, sector leaders have said, as a new collaboration between academia and the country’s agroecology movement takes shape.
This call was at the centre of a fresh partnership between Kyambogo University’s School of Management and Entrepreneurship and Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Uganda, aimed at strengthening skills, innovation and competitiveness across Uganda’s agro-ecological value chains.
The collaboration was unveiled during a two-day capacity-building workshop recently hosted at Kyambogo University, which brought together more than 100 farmers, processors, traders and innovators drawn from the agroecological entrepreneurship ecosystem across the country. The engagement focused on practical solutions to long-standing production, value addition and market access challenges facing agribusiness actors.
Delivering the keynote address on December 8, 2025, Dr Robert Mulebeke, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Kyambogo University, emphasised the urgent need to bridge academic research with the realities on the ground. He noted that while universities generate valuable knowledge, much of it fails to translate into tangible benefits for farmers and small-scale processors.
“Knowledge from universities must meet the realities on the ground. Farmers, processors and market actors need a platform to learn from each other and push for policies that work for everyone,” Dr Mulebeke said. He added that meaningful progress in poverty reduction and agribusiness transformation cannot happen in isolation.
“We need strong partnerships between universities and the communities they serve. Only then can we sustainably improve livelihoods and recognise the efforts of those working to conserve our natural resources,” he said.
Agroecology, which emphasises sustainable farming using natural methods, was highlighted as a key opportunity for Uganda. The country is currently ranked the second-largest producer of organic food globally, a position that presents both economic opportunity and responsibility to maintain high environmental and social standards.
Dr Mulebeke noted that several universities, including Makerere, Mountains of the Moon, Uganda Martyrs and Busitema, are deepening national agroecology efforts through research on indigenous farming systems, climate-smart innovations and community skilling programmes. He added that Kyambogo University stands out for hosting one of Uganda’s oldest gazetted demonstration farms, established in 1975 within Kampala City, offering a unique space for hands-on learning, innovation and experimentation.
PELUM Uganda’s Julius Semambo urged participants to remain committed to agroecology, describing it as a comprehensive response to agribusiness challenges. “Agroecology is not just a farming method; it is a livelihood system, a conservation tool and a business opportunity,” he said, calling it the surest route to resilient livelihoods and sustainable markets.
Participants were organised into working groups to explore strategies for tapping into national and regional markets, particularly within the East African Community (EAC). Discussions centred on how agroecological products can consistently meet international standards and access premium and organic food markets, which are growing both regionally and globally.
However, the workshop also confronted persistent challenges undermining the sector. Participants raised concerns about coffee cultivation in deforested areas, encroachment on wetlands, excessive use of harmful agro-chemicals and the continued use of child labour in some value chains. Weak traceability systems and poor documentation were cited as major obstacles to building buyer confidence and proving compliance with sustainability standards.
“These practices undermine the quality, safety and the story behind agroecological products. If we want to compete globally, we must uphold principles that respect the environment and human dignity,” Mariam Nyadoi observed during plenary discussions.
The workshop formed part of the fourth convening of the Uganda Agroecological Entrepreneurship and Territorial Market Actors (AAEs/TMs) Forum, a national platform launched during the 2024 Agroecological Market Systems Expo. Born out of long-standing advocacy by PELUM Uganda, AFSA and partners, the forum now boasts more than 400 members nationwide and is increasingly seen as a critical space for coordination, policy engagement and collective action to address Uganda’s agribusiness challenges.
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