Overview:

The project at Katebe Farm introduces biomass burners and advanced pasteurization to improve efficiency for over 1,000 regional stakeholders.

LYANTONDE, Uganda — The Engineering Development and Innovation Centre has unveiled a technological overhaul of Katebe Farm, a move officials say marks a shift toward science-led agro-industrialization in the country’s dairy sector.

The project, managed under the Science, Technology and Innovation – Office of the President, introduced dairy processing upgrades to the farm owned by retired Gen. Kale Kayihura. The installation includes a steam boiler system, a biomass burner and advanced pasteurization equipment designed to increase efficiency and lower fuel costs.

Monica Musenero Masanza, the minister of science, technology and innovation, said the initiative represents the practical application of laboratory research to rural economy.

This is what it looks like when science leaves the lab and goes to the farm, Musenero said. We are building systems that help our farmers add value, reduce losses and earn more from their work.

The farm, located at the intersection of the Kiruhura, Sembabule and Lyantonde districts, serves as a regional hub. It currently works with more than 15 milk suppliers and supports a broader ecosystem of 1,000 people involved in banana processing, goat rearing and casual labor.

Kayihura said the integration of energy-efficient systems has changed the farm’s operational model.

This change has radically altered the way we do business, Kayihura said. We can now eliminate waste, maintain higher quality standards and process milk more effectively.

Engineers from the development center focused on creating sustainable solutions that could be scaled across Uganda. Jimmy Kandole, a lead engineer on the project, said the biomass burner was specifically chosen to reduce the financial burden of costly traditional fuels on local processors.

The Engineering Development and Innovation Centre operates as a hub to adapt technological solutions for local challenges in agriculture and manufacturing. Officials said the Katebe Farm model will serve as a pilot for similar interventions across other regions to strengthen national value chains.