The Executive Secretary of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), Prof. Patrick Okori, has challenged Mountains of the Moon University (MMU) to become a model for other institutions. RUFORUM pledged to link the university to partners across the continent and beyond Prof. Okori made the remarks today during a visit to MMU’s Fort Portal City campus.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Coxwell Achanga, welcomed the delegation and gave the background of the university, including its mission and vision. He then invited each faculty to make a short presentation on its work.
Professor Okori pledged to connect MMU to other universities in Africa and beyond. This opens the door to collaboration in research, teaching and innovation. He said RUFORUM is planning its meeting in Lusaka, Zambia. He added that the CBET meeting will take place in August 2027, and he urged MMU to set an example for others.
According to a synopsis prepared by Assoc. Professor Francis Otto, the visit was meant to strengthen the partnership between RUFORUM and MMU and explore deeper collaboration. Since joining the network in 2023, MMU has sought to use its membership more strategically to build institutional capacity, advance research and innovation, expand partnerships and mobilise resources. The talks covered institutional capacity building for staff and postgraduate students, and collaborative research and innovation. They also covered joint projects and grants, staff and student exchanges, and university–community partnerships that turn research into practical solutions.
A further focus was how RUFORUM’s networks can support MMU’s institutional priorities and widen its contribution to national and continental development and support
Science driven solutions for farmers. Professor Okori called for science driven solutions to low agricultural labour productivity in Africa. He said productivity on the continent stands at about 9 to 16 US dollars per hour. Other regions at similar levels of development record between 50 and 74 dollars.
“Universities need to use scientific research and measurable evidence to help farmers increase production and improve their incomes,” he said.
Professor Okori is an internationally recognised scientist, academic leader and innovation champion. He is a graduate of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Makerere University, with a career in higher education, plant breeding, technology scaling and institutional transformation. Under his leadership, RUFORUM has led regional initiatives linking universities, research, policy and communities to advance food systems transformation, climate resilience, youth empowerment and sustainable development. His work has contributed to the establishment of Africa’s Higher Education Centres of Excellence and the commercialisation of improved crop varieties.
The Dean of MMU’s Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Joshua Wesana, said the proposed model farms would give students hands on experience. They would also let researchers work with farmers on challenges affecting production. He said the university wants to bridge the gap between classroom learning and farming. It plans to bring together local farmers, universities, agricultural industries, government agencies and development partners.
Professor Achanga said experienced farmers hold indigenous knowledge that can complement scientific research in developing practical solutions to community agricultural challenges. One of the approaches MMU uses is the Triple F model, which focuses on food, feed and forests. It encourages farmers to combine crop production, livestock rearing and tree planting. The goal is to improve household incomes, maintain soil fertility and protect biodiversity.
Clovis Kabaseke, MMU retired lecturer said the model rests on sustainability, resilience and farmer sovereignty. He said farmers should be supported to produce food and earn income while protecting the soil, water and other natural resources needed for future production.
RUFORUM was established in 2004. It is a network of 175 universities in 40 African countries working to strengthen the contribution of universities to agricultural development and socio-economic transformation. MMU joined in 2023