Farmers and livestock keepers from the Buganda Kingdom have returned from a study tour in Kenya equipped with modern farming and livestock skills aimed at improving productivity through technology.
The group travelled under the Omulimi Kkungwa programme, an initiative designed to promote commercial agriculture and equip participants with practical knowledge in advanced farming practices.
During the tour, participants received training in modern coffee farming, cattle keeping, and fish farming, with a strong emphasis on the use of technology and controlled production systems to maximise yields and maintain quality standards.
Gusta Nsereko, the Bishop of West Buganda, said the farming models they observed demonstrate how agriculture can serve as a key driver of national prosperity if prioritised by both government and citizens.
“The picture we have seen in Kenya shows that agriculture can be a key pathway to a country’s prosperity if both the government and the people give it priority and uphold high standards,” Nsereko said.
He noted that the structured and technology-driven approaches witnessed during the tour could be replicated locally to transform Uganda’s agricultural sector.
Meanwhile, Eddward Kaggwa Ndagala, Executive Director of the Kabaka Foundation, said the programme is also aimed at changing perceptions around farming, particularly among young people.
“Our major task is to inspire young people to take farming and livestock keeping seriously instead of viewing them as jobs for people who have failed elsewhere,” he said.
Ndagala emphasized that promoting agriculture as a viable and professional career path is critical to addressing unemployment and boosting household incomes.
The Omulimi Kkungwa programme is part of wider efforts by Buganda Kingdom to modernise agriculture, improve food security, and empower communities through skills development and knowledge exchange.
Participants say the experience has not only enhanced their technical skills but also broadened their understanding of how innovation and discipline can turn farming into a sustainable and profitable venture.