By Monica Meeme
On 16th and 17th April 2026, researchers from Makerere University College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) disseminated findings from two community-based research projects highlighting the role of digital technology in empowering women entrepreneurs and the contribution of industrial symbiosis in fostering the scalability of smallholder farms in Uganda.
The dissemination workshops focused on sharing research findings, experiences, lessons learnt, and policy recommendations from the two projects, while providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening digital inclusion among women entrepreneurs and enhancing the scalability of smallholder farms through industrial symbiosis practices.
The two research projects include:
- The Contribution of Industrial Symbiosis in Fostering Scalability of Smallholder Farms in Uganda
- “Unlocking the Digital Technology Competencies of Women Entrepreneurs as a Catalyst for Inclusive Development in Uganda
Held at Christina Guest House in Kasana-Luwero District, the dissemination workshops brought together women entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, local government officials, community leaders, development practitioners including the Principal Investigator- Dr Dorothy Kabagenyi, the Co-Principal Investigator- Dr Kasimu Sendawula, Mrs. Doreen Ann Nabukeenya, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner (Luwero), and the Chief Guest and Mayor of Luwero District, Mr. Paul M. Sennyonga among others.
Day one of the workshop (16th April 2026) featured the presentation of research findings from the study titled: “The Contribution of Industrial Symbiosis in Fostering Scalability of Smallholder Farms in Uganda,” implemented under the Makerere University Carnegie-Consolidating Early Career Academic Programme (CECAP II).
Welcoming the participants, Dr Kasimu Sendawula, the Co-Principal Investigator, commended the support provided by the Makerere University–Carnegie Consolidating Early Career Academic Programme (CECAP II) in funding the project.
Dr Sendawula noted that the workshop provided an opportunity to share the findings of the study and discuss practical and policy recommendations for strengthening smallholder farm scalability through industrial symbiotic practices.
In her remarks, Ms. Doreen Ann Nabukeenya, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner (Luwero) applauded the research team for conducting a study that directly addressed challenges affecting smallholder farmers.
She emphasised the importance of adopting innovative and sustainable farming practices such as industrial symbiosis to improve productivity, reduce waste, and strengthen household incomes.
The Chief Guest encouraged farmers to embrace teamwork, proper savings practices, and continuous learning to improve farm performance and sustainability.
Unpacking the research findings, Dr Sendawula explained that the study examined farmer characteristics, farming activities, farm scalability strategies, industrial symbiosis practices, drivers of successful scale-up, and challenges affecting farm growth.
The study was conducted in Luwero District among farmers selected from 20 farmer groups. A total of 350 smallholder farmers participated in the qualitative and quantitative phases of the study to generate insights on farm scalability, industrial symbiosis practices, opportunities, and challenges facing smallholder farmers.
“The findings indicated that poultry farming, crop farming, piggery, dairy farming, and fish farming were the major farming enterprises practiced by participants, with crop farming largely involving maize, bananas, beans, cassava, vegetables, coffee, and soya beans,” he reported.
He highlighted that farmers scaled up their enterprises through increasing livestock and poultry numbers, expanding farm size, diversifying activities, improving market access, and reinvesting profits.
Dr Sendawula observed that smallholder farmers continue to experience constraints including limited capital, land ownership challenges, high costs of farm inputs, pests and diseases, unreliable markets, limited access to machinery, and difficulties in accessing formal credit facilities.
He revealed that teamwork, trustworthiness, commitment, persistence, proper record keeping, knowledge sharing, passion for farming, support from family members and farmer groups, as well as government extension services, are key strategies for achieving successful farm scale-up.
During the discussion session, the participants noted that farmer groups had enabled them to mobilize resources, improve savings, access markets, strengthen social support systems, and improve household incomes.
Consequently, the farmers underscored the need for continuous farmer training, improved access to agricultural technologies, and practical demonstrations on industrial symbiosis practices.
Digital Technology Skills Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
Day two of the dissemination workshop (17th April 2026) featured the presentation of research findings from the project titled: “Unlocking the Digital Technology Competencies of Women Entrepreneurs as a Catalyst for Inclusive Development in Uganda.”
The project, funded by the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF), was implemented by Dr Dorothy Kabagenyi and Dr Kasimu Sendawula. It aimed at equipping women entrepreneurs with practical digital technology competencies, enabling them to integrate digital technologies into their business operations, improve business competitiveness, increase market access, and enhance profitability.
The project team conducted a three-day digital technology training programme for women entrepreneurs in Luwero District from 9th to 11th September 2024 at Christina Guest House, Kasana-Luwero. A total of 78 women entrepreneurs participated in the training, while 74 successfully completed all training sessions and received certificates.
Welcoming the participants, the Principal Investigator, Dr Dorothy Kabagenyi represented by Dr Shamirah Najjinda, a project fellow, applauded the project team for the job well done. She appreciated the management of Mak-RIF for funding the project activities.
She emphasised that empowering women entrepreneurs with digital competencies is important for improving business competitiveness, enhancing financial inclusion, and fostering socio-economic transformation.
She encouraged the participants to actively engage in the discussions and share practical experiences from the field.
She commended the project team led by Dr Dorothy Kabagenyi and acknowledged the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund for supporting all project activities.
The Chief Guest and Mayor of Luwero District, Mr. Paul M. Sennyonga, appreciated Makerere University for extending research and innovation activities to local communities.
He stressed that empowering women entrepreneurs with digital skills is critical for improving livelihoods, reducing unemployment, and enhancing participation in the modern digital economy. He encouraged women entrepreneurs to continue utilizing digital platforms to expand markets and improve business sustainability.
Representing the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF), Ms. Grace Ruto, the Engagement Officer at Mak-RIF, appreciated the research team for implementing a project that directly responds to community development needs.
She pointed out that digital empowerment is essential for promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, and inclusive economic development, and commended the project team for translating research into practical community interventions that directly benefit women entrepreneurs.
Delivering the project findings, Dr Sendawula highlighted that prior to the training, many women entrepreneurs had limited digital technology skills and lacked confidence in using smartphones and online platforms for business purposes. He explained that the training focused on equipping participants with practical and hands-on digital skills to support business growth and online marketing.
“The training covered key areas including social media marketing, internet connectivity and mobile data activation, smartphone and application usage, TikTok, WhatsApp Business and Facebook marketing, online customer engagement and selling, as well as participation in online meetings using Zoom,” he noted.
Dr Sendawula explained that the facilitators guided the participants on how to use digital platforms to market products, attract customers, communicate effectively, and improve business visibility. Through practical demonstrations, participants were supported to install applications, connect devices to the internet, create promotional videos, and market their products online.
He highlighted that the project enabled women entrepreneurs to appreciate social media marketing, identify suitable online platforms for their businesses, connect smartphones, tablets, and laptops to the internet, install applications, launch social media platforms for marketing, develop promotional videos, and participate in online meetings using Zoom.
Way Forward
The Participants agreed on the need for continued digital skills training programmes for women entrepreneurs to strengthen their digital competencies. They called upon the government and development partners to improve internet accessibility and affordability in rural areas, while universities and innovation institutions were encouraged to strengthen community outreach programmes focusing on digital entrepreneurship.
They also recommended supporting women entrepreneurs with affordable digital devices and technology infrastructure, as well as establishing mentorship and peer-learning platforms to sustain the adoption of digital technologies in business operations.
The workshops strengthened stakeholder collaboration and emphasized the need for continued training, improved access to technologies, and stronger support systems to sustain inclusive development in Uganda.
Writer: Ms Monica Meeme and Reviewed by: Ms Ritah Namisango.