Projects

In Uganda, the coffee sector plays a major role in the national economy. It is the main source of income for an estimated 1.7 million smallholder families and a major contributor to gross domestic product and export earnings. Arabica coffee farming is seen as a promising opportunity to enhance the economic prosperity of the region and support its social stability. At Mount Rwenzori, however, the sustainability of the coffee value chain is in doubt because producing coffee is not profitable enough to guarantee economic security and provide decent livelihoods.

The greatest challenges facing eco-enterprises are a lack of access to knowledge, networks, financing and high-quality business development services and poor enabling conditions, including a shortage of skilled people at the community level.

In Uganda’s northern region, about 80% of the population is unemployed or under-employed in the informal economy, and generally fully occupied with subsistence agriculture. Agriculture remains one of the few drivers of economic growth due to relatively fertile soils, two rainy seasons and the high demand for food and other agricultural products in the East African region, as well as the growing demand for organic products. Internationally, demand for sesame seeds has grown fast in recent years – sesame seed production in Uganda grew by 78% between 2002 and 2012.

The by-products and waste streams of agricultural processes are currently not widely utilized. This project is aimed at fostering the use of biomass technologies to turn such agricultural by-products and waste into feedstock or fuel, as a means of adding value to farm produce and increasing farmers’ incomes. The manufacturing sector would also benefit from the transfer of technology for biogas burners, milk coolers, lighting equipment and appliances, briquette presses and other related equipment.

The problem of the collection, management and disposal of waste continues to feature prominently in major towns and cities across African countries. This has led to contamination of water bodies and to the spread of waterborne diseases and other health hazards. In most African countries, waste generation is the result of a rapidly growing urban population, along with the changing patterns of production and consumption inherent to a more urban lifestyle and the consequent industrialization.

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) account for a sizeable share of Ugandan industry and contribute substantially to the country’s economic development. They are a vehicle through which the rural poor and informally employed Ugandans can transform themselves into the middle and industrial classes of tomorrow. The sector accounts for approximately 90% of the private sector and has potential for long-term growth.

In Uganda, the demand for energy has increased significantly due to economic growth and development, improved standards of living, growing populations and, in particular, accelerating industrial growth. The manufacturing sector uses large amounts of energy to support its production processes and other operations. The micro , small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) of the sector are characterized by low energy efficiency due to the use of obsolete technologies, a lack of skilled labour, poor operating practices and limited use of renewable energy sources.

The Government of Uganda, in its strategic development plan, Uganda Vision 2040, has recognized the tourism sector as the mainstay of the country’s transformation from a predominantly agrarian, lower-income society to a modern, prosperous and competitive upper middle-income one. The tourism industry accounted for 5.2% of gross domestic product and 14.6% of total employment in 2016. The sector currently faces the following challenges, however, which this project aims to overcome: 

When it comes to nature tourism, Uganda has a comparative advantage, but protecting its resource base is critical. For tourist accommodations, an environmentally sound operation is increasingly important, both from an operational point of view – lower costs and security of supply – and from a marketing perspective. Unsound operations can have a negative impact on the tourist experience and on the flora, fauna and cultural heritage of the host environment. With an increasing number of tourists coming to Uganda, the need for environmentally sound operations is becoming more pressing.