RUBANDA STEPS UP CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE AS UCSATP DRIVES FARMER SUPPORT AND PRODUCTION
By Kobugabe Joanita – Communication Officer, Rubanda.

RUBANDA – Rubanda District is strengthening its efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture and improve agricultural productivity through the Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project (UCSATP), with district leaders and technical stakeholders stepping up farmer support, extension services, post-harvest management and climate-resilient agricultural practices.

The commitment was reaffirmed on September 16, 2026, during a stakeholder engagement meeting organised by the District Production Department to review UCSATP interventions, strengthen coordination and ensure that climate-smart agriculture approaches are effectively integrated into district development and agricultural extension activities.

Rubanda District Chairperson, Mr. Ampeire Stephen Kasyaba, welcomed the project interventions, saying they have the potential to support farmers and strengthen agricultural production in the district.

Kasyaba called for increased publicity of climate-smart agriculture initiatives through radio programmes on different stations to ensure that farmers and the wider community are informed about the available interventions.

He also raised concern over the attendance and performance of some extension workers, urging the District Production Department to strengthen supervision and monitoring to ensure improved service delivery at the grassroots.

The district chairperson further called for the involvement of all stakeholders in the implementation of the programme.

He encouraged political leaders to use community gatherings such as weddings and burials as opportunities to sensitise communities about climate-smart agriculture practices.

The UCSATP focal person, Mr. Denis Mubangizi, said the programme is focusing on four major value chains ie. crop, fish farming, diary, apiary and encouraged farmers to increase coffee production in the district.

Mr.Mubangizi registered great success of the program through distribution of agricultural inputs, apiary products to farmers who have cofounded in line with the guidelines.
He urged political leaders and other stakeholders to encourage farmers to embrace coffee growing as one of the agricultural enterprises supported under the climate-smart approach.

Mubangizi also noted that fish farming in Rubanda remains relatively low, attributing this to limited land availability and what he described as negative attitudes towards fish farming among some community members.

He said the climate-smart agriculture programme is supporting the District Production Department with laboratory equipment to strengthen agricultural services.

The programme will also support the renovation and equipping of existing Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP) stores to serve as post-harvest facilities, as well as the construction of heifer sperm banks in selected sub-counties.

Mubangizi added that the district has procured water-testing kits for pond water to support fish farmers in monitoring water quality.

He further appealed to district leaders to lobby the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) for additional farmer groups, saying the district has already surpassed the current allocation.
The District Production Officer, Mr. Dismus Baterana, said the department has established practical training centres for farmers to improve the accuracy and flow of agricultural information.

He added that the department will conduct quarterly awareness barazas to sensitise communities about the different projects and interventions being implemented by the department.

Baterana also revealed that the district has received 2,000 bags of fertiliser from the Government of Uganda through MAAIF to support tea farmers.
He said the district is also expecting 800 bags of fertiliser for coffee farmers and another 800 bags for other crops, aimed at supporting agricultural production.

Closing the meeting, Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Mr. Bindeeba Hillary pledged his support towards the climate-smart agriculture programme.
Bindeeba said his office would support public awareness by encouraging the use of government airtime for radio talk shows to sensitise communities about climate-smart agriculture and other government programmes.

He also called for close monitoring of staff in lower local governments, particularly agricultural extension workers, to ensure improved service delivery.

The Assistant RDC emphasised the need for all stakeholders to work collaboratively and diligently in their respective positions to ensure the success of the programme.

He further said that issues affecting the implementation of other government programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), should also be addressed through strengthened coordination and monitoring.

The meeting was attended by members of the District Executive Committee (DEC), the District Production and Marketing Officer, District Forestry and/or relevant sector officers, Agricultural Officer, District Natural Resources Officer, Principal Entomology Officer, District Engineer, District Community Development Officer (DCDO), District Commercial Officer, and other stakeholders.

Figure 1:rubanda leaders led by the district chairperson mr. ampeire stephen kasyaba in a photo moment after the engagment meeting on UCSTAP

Figure 2: Uganda climate smart focal person mr.denis mubangizi addressing the stakeholders during the engagment meeting