Mountains of the Moon University (MMU) on Friday, 08th August 2025, convened a key stakeholder workshop at Night Rose Hotel, Fort Portal, to validate the University’s Agroecology Research Agenda under the ongoing Strengthening of Higher Education, Research and Community Outreach in Agroecology in the Rwenzori Region (AER Phase II) project.
The workshop called together key actors from local government (Environment and production/agriculture officers), Non-Governmental Organisations, City and Municipal Environment & Agriculture officers, and MMU Field specialists to deliberate on advancing agroecology education, research, and farmer adoption in western Uganda.
In his remarks, Dr. John Sekajuko, the Head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources at MMU, called for mutual action in supporting farmers to adopt agroecological practices. “MMU stands ready to cooperate with stakeholders to ensure agroecology programs are not only adopted but effectively implemented by farmers in the Rwenzori region,” Dr. Sekajuko emphasized.
Assoc. Prof. Violet Kisakye, the Programme Coordinator and Associate Professor of Water & Environmental Sciences, outlined the project’s aim, which is to strengthen higher education, research, and science communication in agroecology. She highlighted several core outcomes guiding AER Phase II that include improved quality teaching of the MSc in Agroecology, with emphasis on diversity and South–South exchange, Production of quality Participatory Action Research, Enhanced capacity of farmers to participate in developing and adopting agroecological innovations, among others.
Prof. Kisakye also shared the project’s long-term sustainability measures, including the retention of PhD graduates, integration of demonstration sites into teaching, adoption of bottom-up curriculum development, and embedding key outputs such as demonstration farms and research support into institutional budgets. She noted additional synergies with Erasmus projects and intra-Africa mobility schemes that further strengthen practical learning in agriculture.
The AER Phase II project is funded under the APPEAR Programme and implemented by a consortium of partners: Mountains of the Moon University, Uganda Martyrs University, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) – Austria, and Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA).
Stakeholders actively contributed ideas on enhancing research dissemination and ensuring that farmers in the Rwenzori region directly benefit from agroecology programmes.
The four-year initiative focuses on building the capacity of higher education institutions, advancing farmer-led innovations, and promoting sustainable agricultural systems in Uganda through research, education, and outreach.
Written by: Niwamanya Joab
