Faculty: Land and Food Systems
Program: Master of Land and Water Systems
Year: 2017
Country: Uganda
Abia is very passionate about helping communities through the provision of solutions using his engineering and interpersonal skills. After completing his undergraduate degree, Abia was recruited as a research assistant at Makerere University to work at Smallholder Fortunes & Thermogenn on a project which helps to understand the market milk value chain in Uganda and also develops milk preservation technologies for smallholder farmers. Working as a research and development engineer, his team developed a unique innovation branded “EvaKuula”, allowing farmers to preserve their milk for longer periods and as a result, doubling their incomes from milk sales. Through interactions with the EvaKuula adopting community, Abia realized that a successful solution is a solution which transforms people’s lives.
Abia loves his country and communities; he is driven by his desire to help people who need solutions for the problems they are experiencing. After his journey through Northern Uganda, Abia realized that the region is always struck by long and recurrent drought periods due to climate change, without any adaptation strategies put in place to overcome the impacts. Abia plans to pursue a Masters of Land and Water Systems in order to enable him to bring new innovations to this region and aid in the well-being of both people and livestock in this area.