YPARD Uganda Farm Day Out 2025: Cultivating Ecopreneurs for a Resilient Agricultural Future

Overview

On 9th August 2025, YPARD Uganda successfully hosted the second edition of the YPARD Uganda Farm Day Out, an annual gathering that celebrates youth-led agripreneurship and agroecology innovation. The event convened over 60 young people from across Uganda at the Kyanja KCCA Farm Resource Centre.

Under the theme “Learning, Growing & Leading with Agroecology,” the day offered participants a blend of learning, mentorship, networking, and celebration. It also provided a practical platform to showcase innovations in climate-smart agriculture, ecopreneurship, and youth-led business development.

The activity was organized within the framework of the new YPARD Led project Building Women- and Youth-led Network Alliances for Agroecology and Organic Agriculture (BWYNAAO) Programme, an initiative jointly implemented by Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD), the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology (KCOA), Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Kenya, and the African Green Store Network (AGSN), funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Partnership & Facilitation

This activity was also jointly facilitated by generous contributions of members of YPARD Uganda, and partial support from the Building Women- and Youth-led Network Alliances for Agroecology and Organic Agriculture (BWYNAAO) Programme and PELUM Uganda’s YALTA Initiative

Arrival & Welcome

The day began with registration and welcome tea facilitated by Akello Fiona, YPARD Uganda District Ambassador. This was followed by welcome remarks from Daniel Kisekka, Co-Country Representative of YPARD Uganda, who introduced the work of YPARD in Uganda and beyond

Keynote Address by Mr. Clovis Kabaseke

Mr. Clovis Kabaseke, Director of the Triple F Agroecology Demonstration Centre and Lecturer at Mountains of the Moon University, delivered the keynote. He introduced the Triple F Agroecology Model, a forest-based farming system that demonstrates ecological synergy in agriculture. Mr. Kabaseke called upon youth to embrace the 13 principles of agroecology, highlighting mentorship as a key enabler of innovation, resilience, and sustainability. His message inspired participants to view ecopreneurship as both a livelihood pathway and a solution to global challenges.

Panel Discussions & Mentorship

The morning featured an interactive panel discussion with ecopreneurs and young practitioners from YPARD Uganda, PELUM Uganda, and YALTA Program Alumni, moderated by Alal Bona (YPARD Dokolo District Ambassador) and Julius Ssemambo from PELUM Uganda, with contributions from

• Emiru Jacob-Soroti District ambassador and YPARD Uganda GPSAEP Project agroecology fellow
• Lynette Nakidde – YALTA/YPARD Uganda
• Annette Akiiki – YALTA Mentee
• Kakande Albert & Asingizibwe Ambrose – YALTA Mentors

The panel explored successes, challenges, and opportunities in agroecology entrepreneurship. Mentor-mentee exchanges showcased practical lessons, while participants raised questions on market access, resilience, and scaling agroecology as a business model.

Youth Agroecology Mini-Expo

Participants exhibited a range of value-added products, including:

Value-added coffee, Roasted groundnuts & peanut butter, Honey, and Goat milk products. This mini-expo not only created market linkages but also inspired innovation among peers by demonstrating how small-scale agroecology can generate income.

Guided Farm Tour

The KCCA Farm Manager led participants through a tour of innovative enterprises at the resource centre, including: Modern zero-grazing livestock units, Greenhouse farming & seedling transplanting, Innovative aquaculture systems, Black soldier fly production for animal feed, Indigenous microorganism-based piggery units, Vermiculture & composting. The tour provided hands-on exposure to practical solutions for urban farming, ecological balance, and small-scale profitability.

Celebration of the Ugandan tradition

The event was not only educational but also deeply communal and celebratory. A highlight of the day was the traditional Luwombo feast, accompanied by agroecological music. Meals included chicken luwombo and steamed matooke, reinforcing the cultural bond between food, agriculture, and community.

A surprise moment came when a participant presented a homemade cake to celebrate the second anniversary of the YPARD Uganda Farm Day Out — a symbolic gesture of unity and shared purpose.

Closing Remarks & Networking

Final reflections were delivered by Ajuna Tadeo, the YPARD Project officer and Uganda co-country representative, Sembusi Enock (YPARD Uganda Ambassador), Daniel Kisekka (YPARD Co-Country Representative), and Ssemambo Julius (PELUM Uganda). They all called for the need for youth to champion agroecology as a business model for resilience and sustainability. The day concluded with team-building exercises, networking, and informal discussions, cementing new partnerships and friendships.

Activity Key Outcomes

• Strengthened youth knowledge on ecopreneurship and agroecology-based enterprises.
• Practical learning on climate-smart and urban farming practices.
• Market linkages and exposure for youth-led agribusinesses through the mini-expo.
• Renewed commitment to mentorship and intergenerational collaboration.
• Strengthened partnerships among YPARD Uganda, PELUM Uganda, YALTA alumni, and KCCA Farm.

Conclusion

The YPARD Uganda Farm Day Out 2025 went beyond technical training; it cultivated a movement of young ecopreneurs determined to transform Uganda’s agricultural future.

By blending learning, culture, mentorship, and celebration, and through the valuable support of initiatives like YALTA and BWYNAAO, the event demonstrated that youth-led agroecology is not just about farming—it is about building resilient food systems, creating income opportunities, and protecting the planet. Special thanks to all partners PELUM Uganda, KCCA Farm Kyanja and the Uganda YPARD Family

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