The Agricultural Show Grounds in Jinja came alive on Tuesday as the Acting Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Dr. J.C. Muyingo, officially opened the 5th National Agricultural Education Show. Held under the vibrant theme, “Youth-Driven Innovation: Shaping the Future of the Agricultural Industry,” this year’s national exhibition serves as a dynamic hub for learners, teachers, institutions, government officials, and agricultural stakeholders from all corners of Uganda. Together, they are gathering to showcase the very best of practical innovation in agriculture and technology.
Among the standout participants making waves at the exhibition is Kyambogo University. Proudly represented by creative and passionate students from the Bushenyi Campus, the university’s stalls have become a major highlight of the show.
The students received a major boost of encouragement when the Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University, Prof. Eli Katunguka, personally visited the stalls. Prof. Katunguka toured the exhibitions, interacting directly with the students and applauding their practical, hands-on agricultural projects. Kyambogo’s strong presence underscores the critical role higher education institutions play in driving real-world agricultural solutions.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Eli Katunguka and the Dean of Faculty of Agriculture Dr. Robert Murebeke inspecting students’ innovations.
In his address, Hon. Dr. J.C. Muyingo emphasized that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Government remains deeply committed to prioritizing competency-based education. The goal is simple yet profound: to equip Ugandan learners with practical skills that directly tackle the country’s development needs. “The exhibition demonstrates that education in Uganda is no longer focused solely on what learners know, but on what they can do. Our learners are developing critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, digital literacy, and innovation skills that are essential for the 21st-century economy.” Hon. Dr. J.C. Muyingo, Acting Minister of Education & Sports
The Minister highly commended the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), and the Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE) for organizing the event. He hailed the exhibition as a shining example of Uganda’s Competency-Based Curriculum working successfully in real time.
Students’ exhibitors with their lecturer
Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s socio-economic growth. Dr. Muyingo reaffirmed the NRM Government’s pledge to actively transition the sector from subsistence farming to commercial and industrial agriculture by heavily investing in education and skills development.
To keep this momentum going, the Minister urged educational institutions at all levels schools, colleges, vocational centers, and universities to keep adapting. He emphasized the urgent need to integrate several key pillars into modern classrooms: Innovation & Digital Technologies, Climate-Smart Agriculture and Agribusiness Management
Dr. Muyingo did not forget the guiding hands behind these student successes. He warmly applauded teachers and instructors for their dedication to mentoring Uganda’s next generation of scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs, noting that their impact stretches far beyond traditional classroom walls.
Turning his attention to the students, the Minister left them with a powerful call to action: Embrace innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. In a moving conclusion, he urged the youth to leverage the skills they are gaining to become job creators rather than job seekers, ultimately shaping the economic future of Uganda.