Government has directed universities and higher education institutions to shift from traditional classroom-based teaching to hands-on training that directly supports agricultural transformation, green skills development and community innovation under the Competence-Based Education and Training (CBET) framework.
The directive was issued during the closure of an international conference on green growth and higher education reforms, where officials said universities must play a central role in addressing Uganda’s agricultural productivity gaps, climate challenges and youth unemployment through practical training and research-driven innovation.
Delivering a speech on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Maj Gen David Kasura Kyomukama said higher education institutions must realign their programmes to meet market demands and national development priorities.
“The lecturers must leave the lecture halls and go to the communities because these people cannot come to school. Therefore, the school must go to them,” the statement read, emphasizing the need for community-based training and agricultural extension services.
Government said universities are expected to produce graduates with practical competencies, entrepreneurial abilities, digital skills and innovation capacity capable of driving modern agricultural value chains.
Officials noted that agriculture can no longer be treated as a theoretical discipline, warning that Uganda risks missing opportunities in agro-industrialisation and food system transformation if training remains disconnected from real production needs.
Mr. Willy Ofwono Osinde, Commissioner for Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture, said universities must reposition themselves as innovation hubs capable of solving real-world agricultural and environmental challenges.
“We need universities to train graduates who can create solutions within communities, support farmers with practical knowledge, and respond to emerging challenges such as climate change, food insecurity and unemployment,” Osinde said.
He added that the success of Uganda’s agricultural transformation agenda depends on strengthening linkages between education, research and industry.
The conference also highlighted key drivers of change, including climate variability, population growth, technological advancement and increasing pressure on food systems, all of which require a shift toward green growth and knowledge-based economic models.
Officials said universities must therefore invest in climate-smart agriculture, sustainable land use systems, agro-processing and innovation-driven research aligned with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
Under the reforms, institutions of higher learning are expected to deepen collaboration with industry, strengthen innovation hubs, and expand entrepreneurship training to ensure graduates are job creators rather than job seekers.
Government also called for stronger quality assurance mechanisms as universities implement CBET reforms, stressing that curriculum changes must be matched with investment in staff development, digital learning systems and modern training infrastructure.
The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and partner institutions were commended for spearheading reforms aimed at aligning university education with labour market needs and sustainable development goals.
Officials further urged stakeholders to move from policy dialogue to implementation, calling for increased investment in research, technology transfer and interdisciplinary collaboration across sectors.
The conference brought together university leaders, researchers, development partners, government agencies and private sector representatives to discuss the role of higher education in advancing Uganda’s green growth and agricultural transformation agenda.
In a related presentation, education experts agreed that universities must urgently redesign agricultural training to reflect competence-based learning, with a stronger emphasis on practical exposure.
While rejecting the elimination of theoretical learning, stakeholders recommended a significant shift toward practical training.
“If it was previously 70 percent theory, we should now move to 60 or 70 percent practical and 30 percent theory,” experts noted.
They also emphasized the need for inter-university collaboration, arguing that institutions should share facilities, expertise and research capacity rather than operate in isolation.
“If one university has what another lacks, those resources should be shared and fully utilized,” stakeholders said.
However, concerns were raised about persistent funding constraints in public universities, particularly in research and innovation.
The ministry identified climate change, technological advancement, demographic shifts, and food system challenges as factors forcing a transition toward green and knowledge-based economies.
The Director for Quality Assurance and Accreditation at the National Council for Higher Education, Dr. Vincent Ssembatya said agriculture remains one of Uganda’s most important sectors, contributing nearly 26 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and employing more than 70 percent of the population.
He said graduates must leave universities with the ability to connect with communities and provide practical solutions to national development challenges.
Pius Coxwell Achanga - Vice Chancellor of Mountains of the Moon University urged universities to become more innovative in sourcing research financing by developing competitive proposals and strengthening partnerships with industry and the private sector.
Under the reforms, universities are expected to strengthen collaboration with industry players, support innovation hubs and entrepreneurship programmes, and promote practical learning linked to national development priorities under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
