Mountains of the Moon University (MMU) on Monday, September 15, 2025, proudly hosted the Roots Africa Symposium, a pivotal event that united students, farmers, leaders, and stakeholders under the theme “Innovation and Community Transformation.”
The symposium showcased a powerful model of community-driven development, highlighting how academic partnerships and practical innovation can transform local livelihoods and build a more sustainable future for Tooro Kingdom and beyond.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs and outreach, Professor John Massa Kasenene, affirmed that the University is proud of training Change-makers who will impact the surrounding communities with best Practices for Agriculture.
“We are a community University that is geared towards providing solutions to the community, especially in our niche of Agriculture, Tourism and Environment”, he said.
Radical Partnership for Real-World Impact
The Roots Africa Symposium served as a crucial platform for bridging the gap between academia and grassroots communities.
According to Mr. Clovis Kabaseke, a patron of the Agroecology Club, the event was invaluable for exposing students to new ideas and promoting international partnerships for MMU.
This sentiment was echoed by Prof. Kasenene, who commended Roots Africa for equipping both students and local farmers with the knowledge and skills to become agents of change.
He noted that this aligns perfectly with MMU’s core vision of community-driven development through sustainable farming and agroecology.
He stressed that the partnership is a testament to the university’s role as an active participant in its community’s progress.
Roots Africa CEO Mr. Cedric Nwafor emphasised this by challenging participants to take ownership of their own problems and create practical solutions.
He lauded MMU for its leadership in championing change and encouraged the university to establish systems to track how graduates are applying their skills to solve real-world problems.
Building a Climate-Smart and Prosperous Kingdom
The significance of the symposium resonated beyond the university campus. Hon. Harriet Nyakake, the Deputy Premier of the Tooro Kingdom, represented His Majesty Dr. Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru IV at the event.
In her remarks, she hailed Roots Africa’s efforts in promoting climate-smart agriculture and creating jobs, noting that these efforts directly support the kingdom’s development goals.
She also called upon young change-makers to continue inspiring their peers through collaboration and shared goals, emphasising their role in building a more resilient and prosperous community.
The impact of this collaboration was made tangible through the testimonies of farmer groups, such as Kazingo Farmers Group. They shared powerful stories of how agroecology students from MMU, supported by Roots Africa, have transformed their communities through hands-on training and innovative farming techniques. In recognition of their impactful agricultural projects, student change-makers from Roots Africa partner institutions were awarded certificates, celebrating their role as catalysts for change.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Roselyne Ssali, Dean of Students at MMU, thanked the organisers for selecting MMU as host of the symposium.
The successful symposium at Mountains of the Moon University solidifies its commitment to promoting innovation, sustainability, and community transformation.
By fostering a powerful ecosystem of students, academics, and farmers, the university is actively shaping a brighter future for the region and demonstrating the profound power of applied knowledge.
