There is a strong link between environment and sustainable agriculture. Environmental issues are anchored in the global agenda such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). They are also addressed under Uganda’s Constitution, National Environment Policy 1994, National Forest Policy 1995, Vision 2040, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), and National Development Plan (NDP4). Major environmental and natural resources challenges confronting Uganda and most developing countries include climate change, forest and wetland degradation, poor waste management, water and air pollution, declining soil fertility, and loss of biodiversity. Uganda’s rapid population growth (estimated at 2.9%), coupled with increasing impacts of climate change will accelerate environmental and natural resources degradation, if unchecked.

The West Nile region faces several agricultural and environmental challenges. The Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science (FAES) at Muni University was established in 2020 to provide human and scientific capacity to address these challenges at the local, national, and regional levels. FAES has two degree programs – Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSc. Agric.) and Bachelor of Science in Environment and Natural Resources (BSc. ENR).

The administrative structure of the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science consists of the Dean and Heads of Departments, which are elective positions.

The current Dean is Dr. Alfred Alumai. He is assisted by three (3) Heads of Departments as follows:

1. Dr. Alex Abaca | Head of Department for Crop Science.
2. Dr. Robert B. Onzima | Head of Department for Animal Science.
3. Dr. Philip I. Omwene | Head of Department for Environment and Natural Resources.

The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSc.Agric.) is a 4-year degree programme. It aims toproduce professionals with the ability understand, analyse, synthesize, and integrate key issues in agriculture, and design targeted solutions that contribute towards stimulating and maintaining a vibrant agriculture sector capable of significantly reducing poverty among farming communities and ensuring food and nutrition security.

The programme will produce competent professionals in the agricultural sciences who are be able to:

• Apply desirable agricultural knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes for efficient service delivery.
• Be creative and innovative in the process of analysing, interpreting, and identifying solutions to challenges in the agriculture sector.
• Manage agricultural/farm enterprises profitably.
• Carry out further research in the field of agriculture and other related fields.

Upon completion of programme the graduatesshould be able to:

• Demonstrate technical competence in the science and practice of agriculture.
• Offer effective leadership to manage agriculture-related enterprises.
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge for professional careers as scientists, technical advisors, entrepreneurs, marketers or financial managers.
• Integrate knowledge acquired through coursework with fieldwork, internship placement, and outreach activities be immediate assets to employers.

The BSc. Agric. programme is practical-oriented. Item braces both the science and practice for food production, as well as offers students valuable “hands-on” skills in farm management, marketing, and community outreach.

The Bachelor of Science in Environment and Natural Resources (BSc. ERM) is a 3-year degree programme. The BSc. ERM programme combines key aspects of environmental science, forestry, wetlands, and wildlife management that are key for professionals in the environment and natural resources sector. It aims to produce professionals with the ability to analyse, understand, and integrate the key causes of the current and emerging environmental and natural resources challenges and develop interventions geared towards creating green economies, thus contributing to sustainable development.

The programme will produce competent professionals in environment and natural resources disciplines who are be able to:

• Apply basic concepts and principles in environment and natural resources sciences.
• Develop knowledge and skills in environmental and natural resources assessments, planning and monitoring.
• Develop problem-solving skills through use of inter-disciplinary approaches integrating environment, natural resources, agriculture, livelihoods and development.
• Provide skills to effectively disseminate environmental and natural resources information to various audiences including local communities and policy makers.

Upon completion of programme the graduates should be able to:

• Demonstrate application of environmental and natural resources assessments, planning and monitoring.
• Apply interdisciplinary approaches in solving environmental and natural resources problems.
• Design and conduct independent research on environment and natural resources issues.
• Demonstrate effective oral, visual, and written communication skills.

The BSc. ERM programme is designed to produce environmental and natural resources professionals equipped with specialized knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competences for addressing current and emerging issues in environment and natural resources sectors.

The Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science (FAES) undertakes basic, applied, and action research in the broader areas of agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, natural resources conservation and management. The research focuses on innovation and technologies that lead to enhancing food and nutrition security, enhancing income, adapting to and mitigating effects of climate change, and enhancing environmental sustainability. The research efforts are geared towards improving livelihoods and overall development of communities that Muni University serves. As such, FAES has positioned itself to conduct research using cutting-edge tools, such as biotechnology, bioinformatics, and genomics.

A list of research projects implemented by members of staff in FAES during FY 2024/2025 is presented in Table 1. The research grants contribute to the overall research focus of FAES.

Table 1. Summary of research projects implemented by staff in the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science during FY 2024/2025.

The Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science conducted 10 weeks of recess training during Academic Year 2024/2025 (AY 2024/2025), for 143 students (48 female, 95 male). In addition, the Faculty placed 40 students (11 female, 29 male) for industrial training with various partners. The details are presented in Table 2.

Training is one element of capacity building that focuses on providing specific skills address specific challenges. Capacity building helps in enhancing skills, knowledge, and abilities to empower staff to manage resources better and increase efficiency and productivity. Two (2)members of staff in the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science attended training during FY 2024/2025 (Table 3).

Table 3. Trainings attended by staff in FAES during FY 2024/2025.

Muni University provides opportunities for staff to attend conferences, workshops, and meetings related to their individual disciplines. Conference, workshops, or meetings attended by staff in the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science during FY 2024/2025 are shown in Table 4.

Table 4.Conferences, workshops, ormeetings attended by staff in the Faculty of Agriculture an Environmental Science during FY 2024/2025.

Research dissemination and communication activities carried out by staff in FAES during FY 2024/2025 is presented in Table 5. The research was disseminated through either presentation at meetings/conferences or through publications in journals.

Table 5. Research dissemination/communication conducted by staff in the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science during FY 2024/2025.

The Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science did not conduct any consultancy services related to their respective disciplines during FY 2024/2025.

Muni University’s mission is to provide quality education, generate knowledge, promote innovations, and empower communities for transformation. In this regard, Muni University works in collaboration with various partners to achieve this mission. During FY 2024/2025, the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciencehad collaborations and/or partnerships with the list presented in Table 6.

Table 6. Collaborations and partnership engagements by FAES during FY 2024/2025.

The Faculty he project, the faculty participated in organising the AMUTI Transdisciplinary Summer School in collaboration with PALM Corps and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) with support from the Austrian Development Agency. The summer school brought together10 Masters’ students from Muni University and 10 from BOKU who will engage in a variety of learning formats. The summer school was facilitated by PhD students, staff from the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science and BOKU. The Summer school was organised in two parts: the online preparatory lectures took place from 17th April to 2nd June 2025, while the field part took place from 5th to 19th July 2025 at Muni University in Arua and at PALM Corps Innovation Centre in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement, Terego District. A key component of the program was a field stay in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement, where students interacted with refugee and host community members to gain practical insights into local experiences with natural resource governance, energy use, farming practices, and soil and water conservation practices.

Also, the Faculty engaged in two (2) other community engagement activities during the reporting period. These activities are presented in Table 7.

Table 7. Community engagement by the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science during FY 2024/2025.

The Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science currently has 36 members of staff. Of these, 9 (25%) female and 27 (75%) are male. The staff contribute to the teaching and learning, research and innovation, and community engagement mandate of Muni University (Table 8).

Table 8.Members of staff in the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science, FY 2024/2025.

Uganda is faced with high rates of malnutrition partly brought by hunger as result of climatic change. The bean project will enhance the nutritional composition of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, L), through bio-fortification as an option to address the prevalence of mineral nutrient deficiency (MND) and malnutrition.A wide assembly of germplasm, from various genetic backgrounds,including Zambian (landraces and commercial), Brazilian (EMBRAPA), and Colombian (CIAT core collection) varieties, are being evaluated in in five (5) locations (Arua, Hoima, Kabale, Bukomasimbi, Mayuge districts), together with participatory variety selection (PVS) in two (2) locations (Zeu Sub County in Zombo District and Oyam Town Council in Oyam District). These trials sites are aimed at validating yields and yield-related parameters, pests and disease reisistance, and farmers’ preference of the new breeding lines.

Field experiments on eighteen (18) lines of vitamin-rich banana that were established at Adraa Agricultural College, in Madi Okollo District. The 18 lines are undergoing field evaluation for climate-resilience, yield, pests and disease resistance, soil health and soil organic matter content, and carbon sequestration. From these lines, 9 have been selected for location-specific trials in Zeu Sub County in Zombo Districtfor scaling up. In addition, laboratory analysis will be conducted to determine their beta carotene levels, nutritional content, and biochemical content of the banana lines in both locations.

Over 1,000 rice accessions comprised of varieties, breeding lines, magic populations, and elite lines have been introduced at Muni University from the Africa Rice Centre, in West Africa. Of these, 8 breeding lines have been selected and are being evaluated in Kabanyolo (Makerere University) and at Muni University for biotic stress (rice blast and bacterial blight), abiotic stress (drought), and qualitative traits (aroma and grain quality). In addition, research is being conducted to produce more breeding populations aimed at releasing new rice varieties.

A community-based goat breeding program has been established in Madi Okollo, comprising breeding stock of Savanna bucks, Galla bucks and does, and indigenous goats (local East African) goats. The goats are being assessed for development of a central nucleus herd for goat local goat herd breed improvement.