Kabale University water research experts have launched a three-year project to help smallholder farmers in Uganda’s Kigezi and Rwenzori highlands manage water more effectively. The program brings together scientists, policymakers, and community leaders to design practical, locally adapted solutions.
Dr Alex Saturday and Dr Jennifer Turyatemba coordinate the project. They aim to create an inclusive platform for engagement between researchers, decision-makers, and farmers. Through this platform, the team will share knowledge, close information gaps, and turn research into real-world improvements.
The initiative works with Kabale Women in Development (KWID), led by Florence Tumuheirwe. KWID focuses on strengthening grassroots capacity and ensuring that results reach the communities directly. This approach encourages active participation from local water users in the Maziba and Mpanga catchment areas.
Stakeholders met on August 6 at Cephas Inn hotel in Kabale to discuss progress. They included natural resources officers and representatives from NGOs. Many warned that ignoring research findings wastes valuable knowledge. They urged immediate application of results to improve community resilience.
Kabale District senior fisheries officer Jennifer Twebaze insisted on delivering research feedback to local residents. She said that community members must understand the challenges identified and learn the possible solutions. Florence Tumuheirwe agreed, adding that the project’s purpose is to bridge the gap between academic work and community needs.
The Water and Development Partnership program of the Kingdom of the Netherlands funds the project. It runs under the title “Strengthening Smallholder Farmer Resilience to Climate Change through joint learning, development and evaluation of contextualized solutions—A case of the Rwenzori and Kigezi Highland Regions of Uganda (SFR2CC).” By combining science with local knowledge, the project seeks to create gender-responsive water management practices that strengthen farmers’ ability to adapt to climate change.
