M-Omulimisa

Strengthening Digital Agricultural Extension in Karamoja

Our Training of Trainers (ToT) journey across the Karamoja sub-region successfully concluded yesterday in Amudat District at the Grassroots Alliance for Rural Development (GARD) field office.

The session brought together Farmer Field School (FFS) facilitators who are key to delivering agricultural knowledge and innovation directly to farming communities.

During the training, Mr. Mubarak Muhindo logged the Implementing Partner into the FFS-MIS digital system, after which the Super Administrator, Ms. Anyakun Evaline, registered the facilitators onto the platform.

Participants were then taken through the FFS-MIS system, learning how it supports the management of Farmer Field Schools and VSLA groups, while improving digital monitoring of agricultural activities.

The facilitators also explored how Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA) and Livestock Ecosystem Analysis (LESA) are integrated into the digital platform to support farmer learning and decision making.

One of the most impressive highlights was the digital readiness of the facilitators, many of whom demonstrated strong smartphone navigation skills, making the training highly interactive and productive.

This activity is implemented under the Project – Improving Food Security and Resilience of Food Production Systems in Karamoja (FOSTER) and is supported through a partnership with FAO Uganda.

Together, we continue to strengthen digital agricultural extension systems, improve farmer learning, and build resilient food production systems in Karamoja.

🌧️ Uganda’s First Rain Season (March–May 2026): What Farmers Need to Know

The latest seasonal outlook shared by the Uganda National Meteorological Authority and analyzed on the M-Omulimisa platform indicates that most parts of Uganda are expected to receive near-normal to above-normal rainfall during the March–May season.

For a country where agriculture depends heavily on rainfall, this forecast is extremely important for farmers, agribusiness actors, and rural communities.

🌱 What this means for farmers

The first rain season is the most important planting period in Uganda, supporting crops such as maize, beans, coffee, bananas, cassava, and rice.
Good rainfall can help: ✔ Improve crop yields
✔ Restore pasture for livestock
✔ Replenish water sources
✔ Strengthen food security

⚠️ However, farmers should also prepare for possible challenges, including:
• Localized flooding
• Soil erosion
• Strong winds and thunderstorms
• Pest and disease outbreaks

🌾 Recommended actions for farmers
• Plant early when rains establish
• Use certified and improved seeds
• Practice mulching and soil conservation
• Diversify crops
• Monitor pests and diseases

Digital agricultural platforms like M-Omulimisa continue to support farmers with timely climate information and advisory services to help them make informed decisions.

🔗 Read the full seasonal outlook here:
https://m-omulimisa.com/uganda-seasonal-climate-outlook-march-may-2026-first-rain-season/⁠�

💬 Farmers: How are you preparing for this planting season?

Karamoja Field Update | Day 6 of Training of Trainers

Capacity building continues across the Karamoja sub-region as we strengthen digital agricultural extension systems through the Farmer Field School Management Information System (FFS-MIS).

Today we worked with the Ecological Christian Organization (ECO) at their Nabilatuk Field Office, bringing together Farmer Field School facilitators from Nabilatuk and Nakapiripirit districts under the FOSTER Project – Improving Food Security and Resilience of Food Production Systems in Karamoja, implemented in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Uganda.

The session was led by Mubarak Muhindo, who guided participants through logging the Implementing Partner into the system and activating the Super Admin account. Each facilitator was then successfully registered and introduced to the FFS-MIS platform, which will support the digital management and monitoring of Farmer Field Schools.

One of the most impressive aspects of the session was the technical confidence of the facilitators. Many already had experience using smartphones, making it easier for them to quickly understand the digital tools and navigate the system effectively.

The training also covered how AESA (Agro-Ecosystem Analysis) and LESA (Livelihood & Economic System Analysis) are integrated within the platform to support better field data collection, learning cycles, and decision-making within farmer groups.

Beyond the technical sessions, participants shared tea and refreshments, creating a valuable moment for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among facilitators from different districts.

This initiative is helping to digitally transform the Farmer Field School approach, strengthening agricultural extension services and empowering facilitators to better support smallholder farmers across Karamoja.

Every trained facilitator means more farmers gaining access to better knowledge, stronger farmer groups, and improved food security.

Day 5 Field Update | Strengthening Digital Agricultural Extension in Napak

The rollout of the Farmer Field School Management Information System (FFS-MIS) continues across Karamoja under Project – Improving Food Security and Resilience of Food Production Systems in Karamoja (FOSTER).

Today’s Training of Trainers (ToT) session was conducted at the Karamoja Agro-Pastoral Development Programme (KADP) offices in Matany, Napak District, where 8 Community-Based Facilitators enhanced their skills in using the FFS-MIS digital platform to manage Farmer Field School activities and improve field data reporting.

A key highlight was the facilitators’ strong familiarity with smartphone technology, which allowed the training to quickly progress into hands-on practice, including real-time system demonstrations and data entry exercises.

The session also welcomed a facilitator who had missed the previous training at Moroto, ensuring inclusive capacity building for all implementing partners.

Later in the day, M&E Manager Ms. Barbra joined the training and handed over digital gadgets provided by Food and Agriculture Organization Uganda.

These devices will support facilitators in effectively implementing the FFS-MIS system across the region.

Through Project – Improving Food Security and Resilience of Food Production Systems in Karamoja (FOSTER), partners are advancing digital agricultural extension, stronger farmer data systems, and resilient food production systems in Karamoja.

Karamoja Training of Trainers Update – Day 3

Under the Improving Food Security & Resilience of Food Production Systems in Karamoja (FOSTER) Project, we conducted a succsuccessful training of trainers session in Kaabong, joined by facilitators from Karenga.

Participants:
• 12 Facilitators + 1 Coordinator
• Representing 68 FFS/VSLA groups

With support from FAO Uganda (FFS-MIS FAO Project), training covered:
✔️ Group registration in FFS-MIS
✔️ Chairperson assignment
✔️ Cycle creation
✔️ VSLA meeting setup
✔️ District admin system configuration

Impact: Strengthened transparency, improved reporting, and enhanced food system resilience across two districts.

Digital agriculture is transforming Karamoja.

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🚜 Digitising Farmer Field Schools in Karamoja – Kotido Field Update 🌍

With the generous support of FAO Uganda, we continue strengthening Community-Based Facilitators through Training of Trainers (ToT) on the Farmer Field School Digital System.

📍 In Kotido, we were welcomed by the ADP team, where we onboarded the system administrator and trained 8 facilitators responsible for multiple FFS groups.

After the session, we conducted a live demonstration in Lomudit village with Kalosupa FBS:
• 30 registered members
• 20 present
• 17 women and 3 men

A proud moment was seeing the group Chairperson confidently using her smartphone during digital profiling proof that rural communities are embracing technology.

This initiative is improving:
✔ Transparency
✔ Real-time data capture
✔ Accountability
✔ Women’s digital inclusion
✔ Agricultural resilience in Karamoja

Digital agriculture is no longer a future idea. It is happening now.

🚜 DAY 1 – KARMOJA ToT MISSION 🇺🇬

Today in Abim District, we officially kicked off our Training of Trainers journey focused on strengthening Community-Based Facilitators in using the Farmer Field School (FFS) Digital MIS system.

At the Arid Land Development Program field office, 8 committed facilitators each supporting 4 Farmer Field Schools went through hands-on training covering:
• Super Admin system setup
• Web portal navigation
• Mobile app field data capture
• Real-time reporting and monitoring

After the session, we visited Adea Trading Centre, where we met the Chairperson of Adea VSLA. It was a powerful reminder that digital tools only matter when they improve real farmer livelihoods.

This is how transformation begins building capacity at the grassroots.

Karamoja, we are just getting started. 🌍

📢 Uganda Agricultural Market Update – 12th January 2026

Uganda’s food and coffee markets remain under pressure as election-related transport disruptions combine with changing harvest patterns.

Despite new maize coming in, prices remain strong at UGX 1,180–1,250/kg because many trucks are not moving. Beans have slightly increased, while sim sim, groundnuts and soya remain stable.

☕ Coffee prices are holding steady:
Kiboko: 6,000–6,500
FAQ: 12,000–13,000
Arabica: 15,000–16,000
Drugar: 16,000–16,500

🌍 International prices remain much higher:
Arabica: 28,363 UGX/kg
Robusta: 14,143 UGX/kg
Cocoa: 19,643 UGX/kg

Passion fruits are scarce and expensive, cassava and sweet potatoes are rising, while Kenyan tomatoes are flooding the market and lowering prices.

If you are a farmer, trader or agribusiness, real-time market information can mean more income.

📲 Download the M-Omulimisa App today to get daily prices, buyer connections, weather forecasts and advisory services.

🌍 Uganda Weekly Weather Outlook | 07–14 January 2026
Powered by M-Omulimisa

The latest ICPAC forecast shows that Uganda will experience light and scattered rainfall this week, with warm temperatures ranging from 20°C to 32°C.

🌦️ These conditions are typical for January and support continued farming activities, especially weeding, spraying, harvesting, and post-harvest handling.

🌱 M-Omulimisa Advisory:
Light rains = minimal flood risk
Warm days = monitor soil moisture
Good window for routine farm operations

📲 Stay ahead of the weather with M-Omulimisa through our App, SMS & USSD services delivering timely, localized climate insights to farmers across Uganda.

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