By Witness Radio team.
Mukono, Uganda — the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) members and Civil society organizations (CSOs) leaders in Uganda are convening in Nakisunga, Mukono district today, 28th November, to discuss how to promote agroecology at the regional level and inspire a collective commitment to regional resilience.
Agroecology offers a robust, holistic approach to combating climate change by enhancing the resilience of food systems and reducing their environmental impact.
Spearheaded by the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT), the event emphasizes integrating agroecology into regional climate resilience strategies, especially as the East African Community (EAC) faces rising food costs, climate shocks, and declining soil health.
During the meeting, EALA members, together with CSOs, will explore how principles like crop diversification, soil regeneration, and community seed saving can directly improve smallholder farmers’ resilience and livelihoods, complemented by a hands-on field visit to the CEFROHT Agroecology Learning Center in Mukono.
The event has also occurred at a time when EALA is reviewing the East African Seed and Plant Varieties Bill, 2025, which is being criticized for undermining the role of smallholder farmers in seed saving, conservation, and the management of seed systems to promote healthy foods.
Players from CSOs include: Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM Uganda), Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF), Seed Savers Network Kenya, TABIO Tanzania, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), Slow Food Uganda, SEATINI, FIAN Uganda, and the Mukono District Local Government, among others.
The meeting will lay the groundwork for East Africa’s first Policy and Model Law on Agroecology, a long-awaited step toward sustainable and equitable agri-food systems that empower regional stakeholders to shape the future.
The event will be broadcast live on Witness Radio.
