education 24 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Gayaza High School Empowers Youth in Climate-Smart Agriculture at Annual Farm Camp
Over 500 students from across Uganda convened at Gayaza High School for the 12th annual Youth Farm Camp, focusing on climate-smart agriculture and environmental sustainability to prepare the next generation of farmers and entrepreneurs. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/farming/climate-smart-agriculture-takes-center-stage-as-gayaza-high-hosts-annual-youth-farm-camp-5569084
Gayaza High School recently hosted its 12th annual Youth Farm Camp, drawing over 500 students from ten secondary schools nationwide. This year’s event, themed “Skilling the youth in climate-smart agriculture and environmental sustainability,” aimed to equip young learners with practical skills crucial for adapting to unpredictable weather patterns and ensuring the future of Uganda’s agricultural sector.
Mr. Patrick Muhinda, the camp’s coordinator and farm manager at Gayaza High School, highlighted the critical need for climate-smart farming techniques. He emphasized that with agriculture being Uganda’s economic backbone, it’s essential to train students in modern, hands-on methods. “We are experiencing severe impacts of climate change, and we must teach learners to adapt while innovating solutions to help us cope,” Muhinda stated.
The training included practical sessions on efficient irrigation systems and water resource management, crucial for maintaining year-round crop production amidst prolonged dry spells. Muhinda also encouraged educational institutions to establish functional school farms, noting their alignment with Uganda’s Competency-Based Curriculum.
While the event aims to foster agri-preneurs and address environmental challenges, this year’s attendance saw a slight dip from previous years, attributed by Muhinda to recent government-imposed travel restrictions following a tragic school road accident.
Stakeholders, including Dr. Hamid Rutaro from URUS Group and Ms. Rebecca Kampumure, deputy headteacher at Gayaza High School, lauded the initiative. They stressed the importance of educating youth as future agricultural leaders and encouraged students to leverage the learned skills to solve environmental issues and transform agriculture into viable businesses.
Agriculture remains vital to Uganda’s economy, employing a significant portion of the population and contributing substantially to GDP and export earnings.