By Aulah Najjuuka
In an effort to address the issue of food waste and its impact on the environment, Uganda Christian University (UCU) held an inception meeting on Friday, 26th April in the Principal’s Hall. The meeting focused on two key projects: Food waste -2-Cricket feed and Food waste -2-Piggery feed.
The projects aim to utilize food waste as a valuable resource by converting it into feed for livestock, specifically crickets and pigs. The project is being spearheaded by a team of 5 individuals, led by Dr. Geoffrey Ssepuuya from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at UCU, Patrick Mulondo Kasanya (PKM Reliable Enterprises), Ms.Akwap Pamela(UNBS) , Ms.Jane Alowo( MAK), Ms. Elsie Nsiyona.
Mr. Kisenyi Vicent, Director of Academic Affairs at UCU, launched the projects on behalf of Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi. Mr. Kisenyi highlighted the importance of finding innovative solutions to address food waste and promote sustainable farming practices which in the long run will lead to a more sufficient community. “This project is wide and it takes us back to our Christian values that we were created in God’s image and we ought to take care of his creation and I see that reflecting in Dr. Ssepuuya’s work.”
This project also hopes to cub challenges that pig farmers face, for example high cost of feeds, adulteration of feeds with chemicals , poor breeds etc.
Piggery farmers will be able to interchange their animal feeds and also spend less because they will be using things that are around them but refined to make them safe for animal consumption. The District Livestock Officer Mukono Mr. Ssegujja Tanansi credited UCU and the team working on the project saying he has high hopes it will greatly affect the district’s livestock farming and the country at large. “These days feeds are so expensive so our farmers end up underfeeding these pigs but if we have affordable healthy feeds , I believe we shall be halfway through our battle,”he said.
Dr. Ssepuuya emphasized the potential benefits of using food waste as animal feed, stating that it not only reduces feed costs but also provides animals with essential nutrients. By properly sorting and collecting food waste in a hygienic manner, the team believes that they can significantly reduce the amount of food that is wasted and instead put it to good use in making animal feeds like piggery feeds. Experts have already come aboard to help teach and sensitize on how proper food waste sorting is done. Ms. Henrietah Nakasozi the Founder of Waste Fix Limited says that people have always had an issue about food waste as they didn’t know how useful it can be but with continued communication and sensitization , people will be able sort their food waste properly and have the waste used for its other purpose.” We have decided to start rewarding clients who sort their waste properly because they keep complaining that they can’t pay us to collect the waste and then sort it themselves.
The projects have already generated interest among farmers and agricultural experts from different parts of the country like Mukono and Masaka who see the potential for a more sustainable and efficient approach to livestock farming. Salongo Kazungu from Nakisunga subcounty was one of the pig farmers who graced the meeting and he was thankful for this project saying that he has tried it out on a small scale and he never looked back. “ I was next to a school and they always had left over food waste mostly cassava peelings, I decided to consult my colleague on how I would use them to pump my animal feeds and ever since then I save so much on animal feeds but still have healthy animals.”
Mukono and Masaka are one of the largest municipalities in Uganda and the highest areas practicing piggery according to UBOS 2021. With the support of UCU and its partners, the team hopes to successfully implement the projects and make a positive impact on food waste management and animal nutrition in Uganda.
