Academicians from different institutions in a group photo during a meeting in Gulu City.
By Komakech Jimmy
Gulu: In an effort to promote a more coordinated approach to agricultural research and policy in Uganda, public universities have embarked on bridging the gap between scientific researchers and policymakers to make research more impactful by translating science into policy and practice.
The program, code-named AgriFoSe2030 (Agriculture for Food Security 2030), seeks to communicate scientific outputs into actionable insights for policymakers.
By translating science into policy and practice, researchers will be equipped to bridge the gap between specialized knowledge and policy actors, ensuring that robust evidence informs policymaking.
Professor David Okello Owiny, Gulu University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, disclosed that the overarching goal of the partnership is to enhance the capacity of selected academic staff, senior researchers, and practitioners to effectively engage in policy processes and strengthen their individual competencies.
“We now need researchers, after producing theses and dissertations, to write policy briefs that can be forwarded to policymakers. If these briefs contain sound and practical recommendations, they can be used to inform practice so that service delivery in the country improves,” Professor Owiny explained.
He emphasized the need to make policymakers aware of the importance of research, noting that this can be achieved through dialogue and collaboration to bridge the gap and increase interest in using research data to formulate policies.
Professor Owiny further asserted that action research must involve communities in the design process so that outcomes directly address their on-the-ground challenges. This approach would help communities appreciate that they are partners in the research process, having been part of its design.
Judith Irene Nagasha, a lecturer at Kyambogo University and the Great Lakes AgriFoSe Hub Leader, revealed that the initiative aims to ensure communities are aligned with research outcomes. She acknowledged that communities have often been left out but said the AgriFoSe program is designed to bridge that gap.
She urged the development of researchers who are both policy and community minded, as well as policymakers who are research-oriented, noting that their roles overlap and complement each other.
She added that achieving the goals of the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV) requires collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and communities.
“We need to work together to accelerate development. If development is one-sided, obstacles will inevitably arise along the way,” she noted.
According to Nagasha, for the program to be fully integrated into universities, translating science into policy and practice must be institutionalized. She stressed the importance of securing buy-in from top university management to ensure sustainability.
She added that during training sessions, they ensure the involvement of senior decision-makers within the institutions.
Minimal linkage between research and poverty
Bikolimana Giliado from Mzumbe University in Tanzania said the strategy is timely, as it will enhance the translation of science into policy and practice.
He noted the need to change how research findings are communicated, emphasizing that mechanisms for addressing societal challenges often rely on research findings. For example, while poverty continues to affect East Africa, many solutions exist in research papers. However, the challenge lies in connecting those findings to current realities.
He explained that while universities focus on teaching and research, the gap remains in linking research outcomes to community realities. Although research is conducted within communities to address prevailing challenges, the gap between the volume of research conducted and its actual implementation remains significant.
He observed that in Tanzania, this gap is still wide, and narrowing it would enable communities to thrive in various dimensions, including economic development and poverty reduction.
Dr. Elisabeth Rajala, Director of AgriFoSe2030, pointed out that scientific research has perhaps never been more important than it is today. She noted that agriculture and food systems face complex and interconnected challenges, including climate change, environmental pressures, and food insecurity, partly due to limited focused research on these issues.
She added that although strong science is essential, evidence alone does not automatically lead to change. For research to influence policy and practice, researchers must learn to communicate in ways that resonate with policymakers, practitioners, and other knowledge users working in dynamic and politically complex environments.
Antenah Balay Kassa from the University of Gondar, Ethiopia, noted that the situation is similar in Ethiopia, where translating research into policy and publishing in journals remains a challenge. However, he expressed hope for positive change in the coming years.
The Auditor General’s December 2025 report cited several public universities in Uganda, including Gulu University and Busitema University, for consistently exhibiting inefficiencies in research competencies. Initiatives such as the AgriFoSe2030 program are seen as potential solutions to address these shortcomings.
