Bishop Stuart University’s flag has been raised high by one of the alumni, Katumba James as a young innovator for the entire Uganda, during the 18th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting held in Zimbabwe.
The 18th Annual General Meeting (2022 edition) of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building (RUFORUM) in Africa took place from 12th to 16th December 2022 at Harare International Conference Center, Zimbabwe under the theme “Strengthening Africa’s Agri-food Systems in the Post COVID-19 Era – Opportunities and Challenges”. The event organized in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation showcased the impact and successes of RUFORUM and MasterCard’s joint transformative agricultural initiative in African Universities intended to make a significant contribution to Africa’s growth and development, more commonly referred to as TAGDev.
On 16th December 2022, Mr. Don James Katumba (BSU Alumnus) was awarded a certificate as a young innovator for the entire of Uganda at the same event.
Katumba is a successful producer of Beetroot Yoghurt (Herbal Yoghurt) in Mbarara City. He uses local ingredients (beetroot, lemon, hibiscus, and milk) to produce this yogurt, which he says will combat hunger in some parts of the country and act as medicine for girls who experience heavy bleeding during menstruation.
His journey as an innovator started while he was a student at Bishop Stuart University under Agribusiness Incubation Hub (AIH)
About RUFORUM
The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), is a consortium of 161 African universities, including Bishop Stuart University, operating in 40 countries on the continent with a mission to strengthen the capacities of Universities to foster innovations responsive to demands of smallholder farmers through the training of high quality researchers, the output of impact oriented research and the maintenance of collaborative working relations among researchers, farmers, national agricultural research institutions.
RUFORUM has been organising AGMs in different countries on the continent to share lessons, exhibit and build on the strengths of each university within a multi-stakeholder environment. Previously, the 15th AGM was hosted in Ghana at the University of Cape Coast where Bishop Stuart University emerged as the overall best exhibitor among African Universities. This year’s AGM emphasised the need for actions by African Universities and their partners to strengthen agri-food systems in Africa while building resilience to emerging challenges, particularly those posed by climate change and variability.
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I am glad to see @BishopStuartUni Alumni take positions.
One of BSU Alumni, Mr. Don James Katumba, received a @ruforumsec award as a young innovator for the entirety of Uganda on 16th Dec. 2022 during the 18th RUFORUM AGM held at Harare International Conference Centre, Zimbabwe. pic.twitter.com/AFSJLZRWxG— Prof. Maud Kamatenesi Mugisha (@ProfKamatenesi) December 17, 2022
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