By Joseph muyingo
Uganda’s food and nutrition sector is moving toward stronger university–industry collaboration as stakeholders seek to give students more practical exposure before they enter the job market.
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), together with universities and government agencies, has launched new internship guidelines designed to improve how food and nutrition students are placed, supervised and assessed during industrial training.
The initiative, which began with students from Kyambogo University, places learners in food-processing businesses, particularly small-scale enterprises, where they work alongside professionals and gain hands-on experience.
GAIN Country Director Damali Sali said the programme is being expanded after the initial experience demonstrated the value of exposing students to real workplace environments.
The guidelines are also intended to address concerns over weak supervision of students during internships. Ministry of Education Commissioner John Ochira said some institutions previously sent students to workplaces without adequate follow-up, leaving supervision largely to the host organisations.
Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor Professor Eli Katunguka said practical exposure enables students to complement classroom knowledge with skills acquired directly from industry.
The programme also creates an opportunity for businesses to benefit from students’ knowledge and contribution while helping learners understand the practical demands of their profession.
Dr Peterson Kato Kikomeko, a food and nutrition lecturer, said the partnership creates a two-way benefit between students and industries.
The partners say the new guidelines will provide a more structured internship system while strengthening links between universities, government and Uganda’s food-processing sector.
