Journalists Vow to Champion Food Sovereignty Through Agroecology

Revered journalists from across Uganda have made a powerful commitment to rescue the country’s fragile food systems, which are facing the risk of collapse due to the widespread use of agrochemicals on farmlands, that continue to intoxicate soils, water bodies, and food sources.

Gathered at Esella Country Hotel in Kampala for the official launch of the 5th Cohort of the Agroecology School for Journalists & Communicators, these media professionals vowed to use their platforms to close the information gap that has enabled ignorance-driven agrochemical use in communities. This ignorance, they stressed, is endangering lives, degrading the environment, and threatening the long-term sustainability of agriculture.

The 12-week program, spearheaded by Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF Uganda), aims to empower journalists and communicators to actively participate in shaping discourse and driving action on sustainable agriculture, food systems, and environmental protection.

According to recent environmental assessments, the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides has led to contamination of water sources, depletion of soil nutrients, and the decimation of essential pollinators. This growing crisis, worsened by misleading promotions from multinational agrochemical companies, prompted ESAFF Uganda to act. Through this initiative, ESAFF Uganda is building a national and continental network of media professionals working with small-scale farmers to transition toward agroecology.

Journalism With a Purpose

During the workshop, participants shared their personal motivation for joining the program, describing it as a turning point in their professional journeys.

Patience Natukunda, a news reporter with Prime News, expressed optimism that the school would help bridge the knowledge gap between media and agroecology. “For an industry that hasn’t received the media coverage it deserves, learning about and understanding the dynamics of agroecology will enable me to report objectively and authoritatively,” she noted.

Kooko Lawrence, a reporter from UBC Radio, said he was excited about the comprehensive course content, voicing his determination to educate the public on the need to transition toward Agroecology. “Having seen the course outline, I believe that by the end of these classes, I’ll be equipped to debunk the myths surrounding agroecology and deliver factual, community-centered stories.”

For Precious Naturinda, the Communications Officer at the African Institute for Culture and Ecology (AFRICE), the program would aid the media to champion the need to reclaim the nation’s food systems by amplifying the voices of smallholder farmers.

The initiative comes at a time when global statistics paint a grim picture. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), over 800 million people go hungry globally, two billion suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, while 1.9 billion are overweight. FAO links this nutritional imbalance to diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer and diabetes, now among the world’s top killers.

Media as Catalysts for Change

Recognizing the media’s power to influence public policy and behavior, ESAFF Uganda is banking on journalists to raise consciousness about agroecology as a sustainable and culturally rooted solution. This approach integrates traditional farming wisdom, ecological principles, and social equity.

Nancy Mugimba, the National Coordinator for ESAFF Uganda, elucidated the critical role of journalists in transforming the public’s understanding of agroecology and countering the negative or absent narratives around it. She emphasized that the media has the power to correct misinformation and give visibility to the efforts of small-scale farmers who are feeding the nation sustainably.“Journalists are important for agroecology because our small-scale farmers who are growing food agroecologically are doing a good job, but usually the reports are negative, missing information, or are not well documented. This course will show you what agroecology really is, what is on the ground, and what the real threats to our healthy foods are,” she stated.

While addressing journalists, Hakim Baliraine, Chairperson of ESAFF Uganda's Board of Directors, decried the unhealthy eating habits driven by ignorance and poor lifestyle choices, which have led to a spike in non communicable diseases. “People think that having a big belly means you’re rich—but that’s a sign of bad eating habits. None of these non-communicable diseases come from mosquitoes or houseflies. It’s our lifestyles,” he said.

Stella Rose Akutui, ESAFF Uganda’s Policy and Research Officer, urged jounalists to communicate agroecology in relatable language. “In your stories, break down agroecology and explain it in your own words, so that ‘omuntu wawansi’ can understand and adopt it. Many are already practicing it unknowingly.”

Over the next three months, participants will embark on an immersive learning experience, touring agroecological farms, interacting with smallholder farmers, and exploring core themes such as soil health and biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainable land use, the balance between traditional diets and modern nutrition, food justice, consumer rights, and environmental conservation.

The program seeks to provide journalists with tools and context to report with clarity, depth, and relevance. By the end of the course, they are expected to produce in-depth, community-rooted stories that bridge the gap between policy, science, and the lived realities of Ugandan farmers.

The cohort’s launch comes at a critical moment when Uganda, like many countries, is grappling with the urgent need to rebuild resilient and inclusive agricultural systems. With climate change, soil degradation, and volatile markets threatening food security, there is a growing consensus that locally grounded, ecologically sound solutions are the way forward.