DLLN Uganda Visits Iowa

The Patron of DLLN Uganda  His Majesty William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, King of Busoga, Uganda with the executive director of Developing Lives, Livelihoods and Nutrition Prince Daniel Kitimbo, the Dlln Uganda Skilling  Centers Coordinator Mr. Karoli Mwiiru and the national director of Iowa State University–Uganda Program Dr. Gideon Nadiope were in Iowa from  August 11-18 to learn about the state’s agriculture. In addition to signing several Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

As proof of the synergetic connection between Iowa State University and The Busoga Kingdom of Uganda, a memorandum of cooperation and understanding was signed on Aug. 17 to formalize cooperation and collaboration to benefit both institutions.

The MOU, signed by His Majesty and Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen, serves as an agreement between Iowa State and The Busoga Kingdom to:

• promote institutional exchanges
• organize coordinated sustainable rural development activities
• organize training courses and other meetings on priority matters and
• exchange information pertaining to development.

His Majesty said promoting the importance of agriculture, especially among the country’s large youth population, is essential and a priority under his administration.

Partnering with citizens and institutions in Kamuli, Makerere University in Kampala, and the Kingdom of Busoga will greatly strengthen the common goals of improving education, nutritional food security and income stability.

This visit  was supported by the Kolschowsky Foundation and it included tours of Iowa State departments and farms, a seminar with College of Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty, staff and students, time at the Iowa State Fair and meetings with various Iowa leaders.

“I’m enjoying the vast knowledge that I’m acquiring from Iowa,” His Majesty said, referring to companies showcasing their programs, agricultural methods and equipment. The Kyabazinga’s goal is to share what he’s learned with farmers in his kingdom, as well as those on his own demonstration farm.

Increasing milk production and producing quality milk were of particular interest. “The feeding that enables the cows to have a lot of milk is one of the necessities that I feel I should teach my people, that if you want to have good quality milk production, there is a process especially with the kind of feeds given to the cows, like the corns, which are rich in nutrients, the kind of foods that are grown here, for instance, the different types of grass, and at the same time, the environment that necessitates the cow to be in position to give enough milk.”

Dr. Curtis Youngs, ISU Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods associate director and M.E. Ensminger Endowed Chair of International Animal Agriculture, escorted His Majesty and his delegation around the fair. At the Cattle Barn, they visited the “I Milked a Cow” booth where the King did, indeed, milk a cow — and could at least visually inspect the milk production.

Though the purpose of the visit was educational, they couldn’t leave without experiencing a couple of Iowa State Fair traditions. One was seeing the butter cow. Another was tasting the food.