ESAFF Uganda

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

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

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: https://t.co/ssGdU35093

#AgroecologyNow | #FundAgroecology

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

“At the end of the season, we managed to get one tonne. This second season, we are expecting 25 tonnes.”- Francis Ocaya, Small-Scale Farmer, Yele Keni Farmer Field School, Amuru.

After prolonged dry spells ravaged crops and pushed many households in Amuru district to the brink, small-scale farmers are finding ways to build back stronger. Supported by @ESAFFUG under the Rooted in Diversity (RiD) project, these farmers are building resilience by planting climate-tolerant indigenous seeds, diversifying production and strengthening local value chains.

▶️ Watch the video:

@OxfaminUganda @pelum_uganda @narouganda @1000currents

#FundAgroecology | #FarmersSeedLab

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

“At the end of the season, we managed to get one tonne. This second season, we are expecting 25 tonnes.”- Francis Ocaya, Small-Scale Farmer, Yele Keni Farmer Field School, Amuru.

After prolonged dry spells ravaged crops and pushed many households in Amuru district to the brink, small-scale farmers are finding ways to build back stronger. Supported by @ESAFFUG under the Rooted in Diversity (RiD) project, these farmers are building resilience by planting climate-tolerant indigenous seeds, diversifying production and strengthening local value chains.

▶️ Watch the video:

@OxfaminUganda @pelum_uganda @narouganda @1000currents

#FundAgroecology | #FarmersSeedLab

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟗 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨! 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲???
Last year, during the grand finale of the 3rd edition of the National Schools #AgroecologyPoemWritingCompetition, young minds turned poetry into a powerful voice for Agroecology, using creativity and spoken word to speak out on hazardous pestcides, pollution, healthy food and the future of our planet.

This year, we beat the drum once again!

Be there on 17th September, we are going bigger, louder and more creative!

▶️Watch the video:

@humundi_ong @FundAgroecology @Sida @1000currents

#YouthinAgroecology | #FundAgroecology

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟗 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨! 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲???
Last year, during the grand finale of the 3rd edition of the National Schools #AgroecologyPoemWritingCompetition, young minds turned poetry into a powerful voice for Agroecology, using creativity and spoken word to speak out on hazardous pestcides, pollution, healthy food and the future of our planet.

This year, we beat the drum once again!

Be there on 17th September, we are going bigger, louder and more creative!

▶️Watch the video:

@humundi_ong @FundAgroecology @Sida @1000currents

#YouthinAgroecology | #FundAgroecology

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝐄𝐝𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐢 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐞.
Through the Rooted in Diversity (RiD) project, @ESAFFUG is helping to revive indigenous seed varieties such as Edeidei sorghum, valued for their nutritional qualities, adaptability to local conditions and cultural significance.

To sustain their production amid climate disruptions and declining soil fertility, ESAFF is also equipping small-scale farmers with practical knowledge on preparing biopesticides and biofertilisers from locally available materials, enabling farmers to manage pests, restore soil health and create the conditions needed for indigenous crops to thrive.

Read More: https://t.co/aaRD59sKkN

@OxfaminUganda @pelum_uganda @narouganda

#FundAgroecology | #FarmersSeedLab

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝐄𝐝𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐢 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐞.
Through the Rooted in Diversity (RiD) project, @ESAFFUG is helping to revive indigenous seed varieties such as Edeidei sorghum, valued for their nutritional qualities, adaptability to local conditions and cultural significance.

To sustain their production amid climate disruptions and declining soil fertility, ESAFF is also equipping small-scale farmers with practical knowledge on preparing biopesticides and biofertilisers from locally available materials, enabling farmers to manage pests, restore soil health and create the conditions needed for indigenous crops to thrive.

Read More: https://t.co/aaRD59sKkN

@OxfaminUganda @pelum_uganda @narouganda

#FundAgroecology | #FarmersSeedLab

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬, 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲. Our food systems are under intense pressure from unsustainable methods of food production, such as the use of hazardous chemicals that are degrading our soils, harming biodiversity and threatening human health.

We have inaugurated the 6th Cohort of the Agroecology School for Journalists and Communicators for a 12-week immersive journey into understanding #agroecology. Over this period, journalists will explore how agroecology can produce safe, nutritious food, strengthen small-scale farmers’ livelihoods, create demand for sustainably produced food and open opportunities in local and regional markets.

@1000currents @FundAgroecology @OxfaminUganda @Sida

#AgroecologyNow #FundAgroecology

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬, 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲. Our food systems are under intense pressure from unsustainable methods of food production, such as the use of hazardous chemicals that are degrading our soils, harming biodiversity and threatening human health.

We have inaugurated the 6th Cohort of the Agroecology School for Journalists and Communicators for a 12-week immersive journey into understanding #agroecology. Over this period, journalists will explore how agroecology can produce safe, nutritious food, strengthen small-scale farmers’ livelihoods, create demand for sustainably produced food and open opportunities in local and regional markets.

@1000currents @FundAgroecology @OxfaminUganda @Sida

#AgroecologyNow #FundAgroecology

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

DAY 4 | #LandAwarenessWeek2026
In the Town Councils of Karadoba and Kashari, long-standing land conflicts are once again raising a critical question on how communities can secure the land they have known as home amid competing claims.

In Karadoba, communities facing eviction amid claims by Kilembe Mines over land they have occupied for years are seeking resolution. In Kashari, a community of about 238 people is pursuing legal avenues after a court recognised another party as the lawful owner.

@ministry_lands spokesperson @dennisfo2002 urged the affected residents to pursue legal redress to resolve the disputes. “Also, work with our lawyers here and connect them to your lawyers so that you are better supported,” he said.

#SecuredLandRights4All | #LandRightsSupportCentre

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺-𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁.
For generations, farmers have selected the best seed from their harvests, reused it, exchanged it and passed it from one generation to the next. Yet the EAC Seed and Plant Varieties Bill, 2025 gives considerable attention to formal varieties without clearly recognising farm-saved seed and the farmer-managed systems that sustain it.

@ESAFFUG calls for a regional seed law that safeguards farmers’ rights to save, select, reuse, exchange, share and sell seed.

⬇️Download our position paper: https://t.co/O9mfj2y5rW

@OxfaminUganda @Sida @noradno @1000currents

#ProtectFarmerSeedRights | #EACSeedBill2025

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝗔 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿.
Clause 12 of the #EACSeedBill2025 gives breeders a clear route to protection, yet farmers’ rights to save, reuse, exchange and share seed are not equally secured. That disparity is one ESAFF does not agree with.

We call for clear safeguards for farmers, disclosure of genetic material sourced from farmer varieties and fair benefit-sharing.

⬇️Read our full position: https://t.co/O9mfj2y5rW

@OxfaminUganda @Sida @noradno @1000currents

#ProtectFarmerSeedRights | #FarmersSeedLab

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞
Clause 6 of the #EACSeedBill2025 requires a plant variety to undergo two seasons of Distinctness, Uniformity & Stability (DUS) testing and Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) or National Performance Trials (NPTs).

While suited to highly uniform commercial varieties, a seed law designed around uniformity can create barriers for farmer varieties and landraces, whose strength lie in genetic diversity.

ESAFF calls for distinct, appropriate registration pathways for commercial varieties, farmer varieties, landraces and farmer seed producers.

⬇️Read our full position: https://t.co/O9mfj2y5rW

@OxfaminUganda @Sida @noradno @1000currents

#ProtectFarmerSeedRights | #FarmersSeedLab

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠!!!!

Just 13 Days to go!!!!

The final event of the 4th edition of the Schools’ Agroecology Poem Writing Competition 2026 is almost here! Join us on 19th September as 12 Primary and 12 Secondary schools from the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western regions of Uganda tussle it out at the National level for the overall winner.

Come see young minds, poets and agroecologists recite, write and display their creativity as they bring the message of #Agroecology to life and inspire sustainable food systems. Dont Miss!!!

@humundi_ong @FundAgroecology @Sida @1000currents

#YouthinAgroecology | #FundAgroecology

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠!!!!

Just 13 Days to go!!!!

The final event of the 4th edition of the Schools’ Agroecology Poem Writing Competition 2026 is almost here! Join us on 19th September as 12 Primary and 12 Secondary schools from the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western regions of Uganda tussle it out at the National level for the overall winner.

Come see young minds, poets and agroecologists recite, write and display their creativity as they bring the message of #Agroecology to life and inspire sustainable food systems. Dont Miss!!!

@humundi_ong @FundAgroecology @Sida @1000currents

#YouthinAgroecology | #FundAgroecology

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞
Clause 6 of the #EACSeedBill2025 requires a plant variety to undergo two seasons of Distinctness, Uniformity & Stability (DUS) testing and Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) or National Performance Trials (NPTs).

While suited to highly uniform commercial varieties, a seed law designed around uniformity can create barriers for farmer varieties and landraces, whose strength lie in genetic diversity.

ESAFF calls for distinct, appropriate registration pathways for commercial varieties, farmer varieties, landraces and farmer seed producers.

⬇️Read our full position: https://t.co/O9mfj2y5rW

@OxfaminUganda @Sida @noradno @1000currents

#ProtectFarmerSeedRights | #FarmersSeedLab

[Witness Radio @witness_radio]

Hakim Baliraine, National Chairman of @ESAFFUG
said that farmers should be recognized as important actors in seed development rather than being treated primarily as consumers of commercial seed.Readmore: https://t.co/iZ9aSQAoTs
@ESAFFUG @Afsafrica @Seedsavers_KE
#EACSeedBill

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝗔 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿.
Clause 12 of the #EACSeedBill2025 gives breeders a clear route to protection, yet farmers’ rights to save, reuse, exchange and share seed are not equally secured. That disparity is one ESAFF does not agree with.

We call for clear safeguards for farmers, disclosure of genetic material sourced from farmer varieties and fair benefit-sharing.

⬇️Read our full position: https://t.co/O9mfj2y5rW

@OxfaminUganda @Sida @noradno @1000currents

#ProtectFarmerSeedRights | #FarmersSeedLab

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺-𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁.
For generations, farmers have selected the best seed from their harvests, reused it, exchanged it and passed it from one generation to the next. Yet the EAC Seed and Plant Varieties Bill, 2025 gives considerable attention to formal varieties without clearly recognising farm-saved seed and the farmer-managed systems that sustain it.

@ESAFFUG calls for a regional seed law that safeguards farmers’ rights to save, select, reuse, exchange, share and sell seed.

⬇️Download our position paper: https://t.co/O9mfj2y5rW

@OxfaminUganda @Sida @noradno @1000currents

#ProtectFarmerSeedRights | #EACSeedBill2025

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

As #LandAwarenessWeek2026 comes to a close, communities in the Rwenzori Sub-region have petitioned the Minister of Lands, Hon. Harriet Ntabazi, seeking redress on long-standing land disputes.

The Minister urged CSOs present to step up land rights sensitisation, and called on magistrates and judges to follow up on land cases for timely resolution. She received the petitions and committed to follow up on the concerns raised, noting that 90% of the land issues would be resolved very soon.

The focus now shifts to ensuring that the concerns raised are followed through to meaningful redress.

#SecuredLandRights4All | #LandRightsSupportCentre

[ESAFF Uganda @ESAFFUG]

As #LandAwarenessWeek2026 comes to a close, communities in the Rwenzori Sub-region have petitioned the Minister of Lands, Hon. Harriet Ntabazi, seeking redress on long-standing land disputes.

The Minister urged CSOs present to step up land rights sensitisation, and called on magistrates and judges to follow up on land cases for timely resolution. She received the petitions and committed to follow up on the concerns raised, noting that 90% of the land issues would be resolved very soon.

The focus now shifts to ensuring that the concerns raised are followed through to meaningful redress.

#SecuredLandRights4All | #LandRightsSupportCentre