A four-member team from Mbale District has commenced a two-day benchmarking tour in Rukungiri District aimed at improving agricultural and livestock practices back home.
The tour, which began on Monday, July 14, 2025, is focused on learning from successful farmers in Rukungiri in order to enhance farming productivity in Mbale.
The delegation is being led by Rukungiri District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Hajji Swalihk Masokoyi Wasswa, accompanied by officials from the district production office, sub-county representatives, and local farmers.
On the first day, the team visited leading farmers including Boaz Rutera from Bugangari Sub-county, who specializes in coffee and banana farming, and Frank Mugiri from Buyanja Sub-county, known for his zero-grazing cattle farming. Both farmers have earned a reputation for their innovative and successful agricultural techniques.
During an interview, Masaba Lydia, a retired teacher from Mbale, expressed enthusiasm about the lessons learned during the tour.
She highlighted practical techniques like mulching and intercropping, which help increase yields even in less fertile soils.
“We’ve learned that these methods can greatly boost production, and I am optimistic that we will be able to implement them back home in Mbale,” Masaba said.
The visit is part of a broader effort to address the challenges faced by Mbale’s farmers, where fertile soils are often underutilized due to lack of commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.
Rukungiri CAO Hajji Swalihk Masokoyi Wasswa emphasized the importance of consistency and hard work in agriculture.
“While Mbale has fertile soils, many people do not fully commit to agricultural projects, which results in poor yields. This benchmarking visit is intended to inspire farmers in Mbale to adopt best practices from the hardworking farmers in Rukungiri, particularly in crops like coffee and bananas,” he said.
The team’s itinerary for tomorrow includes visits to a piggery project in Nyakagyeme Sub-county, a district demonstration farm in Nyarushanje Sub-county, and additional farms. The aim is to explore diverse farming practices that could be replicated in Mbale.
Rukungiri’s Principal Agriculture Officer, Mildred Kukundakwe, advised farmers to prioritize soil testing before initiating any farming project. She stressed that understanding soil health is key to determining the right crops to plant and the necessary soil amendments.
Among the farmers the team visited was Boaz Rutera, who owns over 15,000 coffee trees in Bugangari Sub-county and reportedly harvests over 100 kilograms of coffee from some individual trees.
Frank Mugiri, a cattle farmer from Buyanja Sub-county, milks up to 30 liters per cow daily from his herd of 28 cattle.
Both Rutera and Mugiri urged Ugandans to remain focused and dedicated to their agricultural ventures.
“Jumping from one project to another leads to failure. Farmers need to stick with their projects, whether it’s coffee, cocoa, or bananas, and put in the necessary time and effort,” they noted.
As the team prepares for the next leg of their tour, the knowledge gained from Rukungiri’s successful farmers is expected to play a vital role in transforming agricultural practices in Mbale District.
