The milestone symposium, held on 9 July 2025 at Kakindu Stadium in Jinja City brought together farmers, women leaders, and community representatives from across the country to discuss how industrial hemp could provide sustainable livelihoods, climate-smart farming options, and value-added opportunities in food, textiles, construction, and wellness industries.
Thousands of people attended the gathering where attendees called for the crop to be officially recognized under Uganda’s horticulture framework, and for immediate support to train farmers, form savings groups, and establish seed production cooperatives.
The gathering, organized by Mwamic, as part of its Uganda Sativa Project, was described by participants as “historic” and “transformative.” “The attendance of women was surprisingly very high,” noted one co-ordinator. “This shows that the people of Eastern Uganda are ready.”
Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga was guest of honour at the event and applauded Mwamic’s efforts in promoting women-centred agricultural innovation and emphasized the importance of including women in Uganda’s green economic transformation.
“Empowering women with knowledge and opportunities in industrial hemp is not just about farming—it is about restoring dignity, creating jobs, and building resilient communities” she said.
Mwamic highlighted its three-tier farmer model—Trial, Model, and Out-grower Farmers—encouraging women to take up roles as Model Farmers, serving as regional ambassadors of sustainable hemp cultivation. Training sessions and knowledge-sharing discussions were also conducted on seed development, processing opportunities, and compliance with national agricultural guidelines.
Participants and organizers framed industrial hemp as a unifying force, particularly for unemployed youth and marginalized women.
The symposium closed with a strong call to action: supporting women farmers as the backbone of community development while positioning Uganda as a leader in Africa’s industrial hemp industry.
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