Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers' Forum (ESAFF) Uganda is the largest small-scale farmers-led policy influencing movement in Uganda.

Kampala, Uganda
Joined February 2015
We are thrilled to unveil the @ESAFFUG 2025 Impact Report, a powerful reflection of our shared efforts to advance agroecology and amplify the voices of small-scale farmers. From farmer-led initiatives to national policy engagements, this report showcases the lived experiences of small-scale farmers, the partnerships that strengthened our work, and the tangible outcomes of our shared commitment to advancing agroecology. Download a copy of the report: 6627cfd7-dfbf-4bc7-9649-fd8b… #AgroecologyNow | #FundAgroecology
1
27
44
2,232
Across Africa, small-scale farmers face a tough balancing act of improving yields amid dry spells, while grappling with volatile market prices. At #NationalAgroecologyFestival2026, Apolot Nalwima, facilitator at Okunguro Farmer Field School (FFS) in Serere district, shared how her group harvested 450 kg of sorghum from just 4 kg of seed. @ESAFFUg has supported these farmers with knowledge of planting in rows, and through Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB), they have been able to select sorghum varieties, such as Edei Dei, that suit their local conditions. ▶️ Watch: @hekseperworld @1000currents @Sida @noradno @OxfaminUganda @narouganda #FarmerSeedLab | #SeedSovereigntyNow
11
19
409
ESAFF Uganda retweeted
Ani engine?! 🔥 Rural women are the engines that drive our economy! New week, renewed energy and a call to turn recognition into action! As @UCOBAC_ ‘s Executive Director Ms Frances Birungi (@frances_birungi) reminds us, celebrating rural women must go beyond words. It means securing their land rights. Secure land rights strengthen food security, climate resilience and women’s economic empowerment. Let’s turn recognition into action! @Stand4herlandUg @Landesa_Global @UG_WLRM @FRAUGANDA @ESAFFUG @WoordenDaad @NAWOUga @ZOAUganda @LftWUG @GLTNnews @Mglsd_UG @ministry_lands @mofpedU @unwomenuganda @unwomenafrica @OxfaminUganda @HuairouConnect @Oxfam @UplMf @UWOPA @WEGCDA3 @weeffect @pelum_uganda @MAAIF_Uganda @GovUganda @giz_gmbh
3
5
185
The seed that doesn't die
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. In Teso Sub-region of Uganda, small-scale farmers are turning to indigenous sorghum, Edei-Edei, to sustain production amid prolonged dry spells. At the 2nd #NationalAgroecologyFestival, these farmers shared their experiences with indigenous seeds, showing how Farmer-Managed Seed Systems (FMSS) preserve local knowledge, safeguard crop diversity & strengthen communities’ capacity to adapt to climate shocks. But resilient seeds need resilient markets, too. 📰Read their story: nilepost.co.ug/agriculture/3… @hekseperworld @1000currents @Sida @OxfaminUganda #FarmerSeedLab | #SeedSovereigntyNow
5
6
40
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. In Teso Sub-region of Uganda, small-scale farmers are turning to indigenous sorghum, Edei-Edei, to sustain production amid prolonged dry spells. At the 2nd #NationalAgroecologyFestival, these farmers shared their experiences with indigenous seeds, showing how Farmer-Managed Seed Systems (FMSS) preserve local knowledge, safeguard crop diversity & strengthen communities’ capacity to adapt to climate shocks. But resilient seeds need resilient markets, too. 📰Read their story: nilepost.co.ug/agriculture/3… @hekseperworld @1000currents @Sida @OxfaminUganda #FarmerSeedLab | #SeedSovereigntyNow
1
17
1
27
399
Would you spray your farm with a chemical Europe has banned? 🤔 Many Ugandan farmers do, without knowing it. Of the 115 pesticide active ingredients registered in Uganda, 55 are highly hazardous, and most of those are not approved in the EU countries that export them ☠️ Only 31% of our farmers have ever been trained to handle them safely. Tomorrow, 22 October, the Agroecology Collaborative, convened by CEFROHT, hosts a National Dialogue on phasing out highly hazardous pesticides and launches the Joint National HHPs Strategy for Uganda 🌱 Safe food is a right ⚖️ #BanHHPs #Agroecology #WorldFoodDay #CefrohtUG
1
17
28
535
ESAFF Uganda retweeted
Happening now at Bululu Subcounty, Kalaki District!! At the launch of Bululu Community Seedbank, we are being entertained by Otuboi Akogo band!! It’s a mix of exhibitions of locals and local entertainment!!!!
2
4
93
Farmer-managed seed systems (FMSS) are central to our food systems. Here is why: they keep indigenous seed varieties alive, preserve farmers’ knowledge, sustain crop diversity and strengthen communities’ capacity to withstand climate shocks. As we gear up for the 1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference, we must push for policies that recognise and support FMSS and the farmers who sustain them. Mr. Hakim Baliraine, small-scale farmer from Mayuge district and National Chairperson @ESAFFUG, explains what these systems are, and why they matter. ▶️ Watch full episode on ESAFF Uganda TV: youtu.be/r1QkQ1N3Dvk?si=FWrU… @hekseperworld @1000currents @Sida #FarmerSeedLab | #SeedSovereigntyNow
17
31
574
ESAFF Uganda retweeted
📢 Media practitioners! Join the 1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference 2026 and amplify the story of seed sovereignty, farmers’ rights and food security. 📅 17–20 Nov | 📍 Nairobi, Kenya 🎟️ Free media registration: bit.ly/3VRn4qp
6
8
137
📍
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬! Behind every local seed saved, every local food variety preserved and every farmer-led innovation, lies a story worth telling. This edition brings to light how small-scale farmers across Uganda are preserving our local food varieties, producing safe and nutritious food to build more resilient livelihoods. Get your copy: zc.vg/0SO2u?m=0 #AgroecologyNow | #FundAgroecology
1
2
25
ESAFF Uganda retweeted
Rural women farmers help feed communities, conserve biodiversity, protect water sources and restore degraded land. Yet many still lack secure land rights, finance and a voice in agricultural decisions. Read more:radio.witnessradio.org/inter…
1
6
12
233
𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬! Behind every local seed saved, every local food variety preserved and every farmer-led innovation, lies a story worth telling. This edition brings to light how small-scale farmers across Uganda are preserving our local food varieties, producing safe and nutritious food to build more resilient livelihoods. Get your copy: zc.vg/0SO2u?m=0 #AgroecologyNow | #FundAgroecology
13
1
24
548
ESAFF Uganda retweeted
𝐍𝐀𝐅𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧! Representatives from the Central Government, the academia, researchers, small-scale farmers, Local Government Leaders and the civil society adopt The Soroti Declaration on Agroecology 2026, committing to advance agroecology, safeguard farmer-managed seed systems, promote food safety and strengthen farmers’ participation in food-system governance. @noradno @OxfaminUganda @1000currents @humundi_ong @hekseperworld @Sida #NationalAgroecologyFestival | #AgroecologyNow
1
15
22
384
𝐍𝐀𝐅𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧! Representatives from the Central Government, the academia, researchers, small-scale farmers, Local Government Leaders and the civil society adopt The Soroti Declaration on Agroecology 2026, committing to advance agroecology, safeguard farmer-managed seed systems, promote food safety and strengthen farmers’ participation in food-system governance. @noradno @OxfaminUganda @1000currents @humundi_ong @hekseperworld @Sida #NationalAgroecologyFestival | #AgroecologyNow
1
15
22
384
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞? On Day 2 of #NAF2026, the exhibition spaces tell the story through the colours of indigenous foods, the ingenuity behind locally made products, the local seeds farmers preserve and the value they add to what they grow. As we mark #WorldFoodDay2026, these displays offer a glimpse of what becomes possible when farmers’ knowledge, local resources and agroecological practices shape the food on our tables and the livelihoods around it. 🎥Take a look: @noradno @OxfaminUganda @1000currents @humundi_ong @hekseperworld @Sida #NationalAgroecologyFestival | #AgroecologyNow
6
18
26
475
In his closing remarks, Serere district Deputy RDC Mr. Anthony Nseko commended @ESAFFUG for advancing agroecology, improving community health and strengthening climate resilience. He called for greater investment in school-based agroecology programmes, and collaboration with local governments to sustain these efforts. “You may think of local food as just local food, but it is a vast project that is handling and solving very many issues. The food will give us everything. Diseases shall be prevented, and we shall improve the health conditions of our communities while saving government resources that would otherwise go into treatment.”- He said. @noradno @OxfaminUganda @1000currents @humundi_ong @hekseperworld @Sida #NationalAgroecologyFestival | #AgroecologyNow
7
9
74
ESAFF Uganda retweeted
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞? On Day 2 of #NAF2026, the exhibition spaces tell the story through the colours of indigenous foods, the ingenuity behind locally made products, the local seeds farmers preserve and the value they add to what they grow. As we mark #WorldFoodDay2026, these displays offer a glimpse of what becomes possible when farmers’ knowledge, local resources and agroecological practices shape the food on our tables and the livelihoods around it. 🎥Take a look: @noradno @OxfaminUganda @1000currents @humundi_ong @hekseperworld @Sida #NationalAgroecologyFestival | #AgroecologyNow
6
18
26
475
ESAFF Uganda retweeted
#NAF2026 In his speech, Mr. Andrew Ocole, Prime Minister of the Iteso Cultural Union, who represented the Emorimor His Royal Highness Papa Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng III as the Guest of Honour, called for stronger collaboration between cultural institutions and agroecology actors to preserve indigenous foods, traditional seeds and trees as part of Uganda’s cultural heritage. He emphasised the importance of reconnecting communities with traditional foods as dietary habits change, highlighting the relationship between food choices, nutrition and wellbeing. ▶️ Watch: @noradno @OxfaminUganda @1000currents @humundi_ong @hekseperworld @Sida #NationalAgroecologyFestival | #AgroecologyNow
8
12
86
#NAF2026 In his speech, Mr. Andrew Ocole, Prime Minister of the Iteso Cultural Union, who represented the Emorimor His Royal Highness Papa Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng III as the Guest of Honour, called for stronger collaboration between cultural institutions and agroecology actors to preserve indigenous foods, traditional seeds and trees as part of Uganda’s cultural heritage. He emphasised the importance of reconnecting communities with traditional foods as dietary habits change, highlighting the relationship between food choices, nutrition and wellbeing. ▶️ Watch: @noradno @OxfaminUganda @1000currents @humundi_ong @hekseperworld @Sida #NationalAgroecologyFestival | #AgroecologyNow
8
12
86
ESAFF Uganda retweeted
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐 | #𝐍𝐀𝐅𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 In her remarks, Nancy Mugimba, National Coordinator of @ESAFFUG, reiterated that food security goes beyond simply having food; it also means ensuring that food is safe, available, affordable, accessible and nutritious. She called for stronger links between research and farmers’ knowledge, recognising the value of community-led practices in building climate resilience, preserving local seed varieties and conserving soils, while identifying areas that need further improvement. “We are also here to celebrate what is working within the communities and forge a way forward for that which need improvements.”- She remarked @noradno @OxfaminUganda @1000currents @humundi_ong @hekseperworld @Sida #NationalAgroecologyFestival | #AgroecologyNow
12
16
85
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐 | #𝐍𝐀𝐅𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 In her remarks, Nancy Mugimba, National Coordinator of @ESAFFUG, reiterated that food security goes beyond simply having food; it also means ensuring that food is safe, available, affordable, accessible and nutritious. She called for stronger links between research and farmers’ knowledge, recognising the value of community-led practices in building climate resilience, preserving local seed varieties and conserving soils, while identifying areas that need further improvement. “We are also here to celebrate what is working within the communities and forge a way forward for that which need improvements.”- She remarked @noradno @OxfaminUganda @1000currents @humundi_ong @hekseperworld @Sida #NationalAgroecologyFestival | #AgroecologyNow
12
16
85
ESAFF Uganda retweeted
A closer look at the agroecological produce on display at #NAF2026 reveals more than just food. Behind each harvest is a farmer’s knowledge, care for the land and effort to bring good food to our tables. This #WorldFoodDay2026, we celebrate the people and practices that keep our food systems alive and remind us why what farmers grow, and how they grow it, matters. @noradno @OxfaminUganda @1000currents @humundi_ong @hekseperworld @Sida #NationalAgroecologyFestival | #AgroecologyNow
12
17
91