The learners were accompanied by their teachers and conducted around on a guided tour by a NaFORRI Research Officer, Dr. Odoi Juventine Boaz, and Dianah Namayanja, an entomologist at the institute.
Learners from different schools in Mukono district had a unique way of celebrating the belated International Day of Forests. Organised by the National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFORRI) at the institute headquarters on Friday April 4, 2025, the celebrations were blessed by learners from both primary and secondary school from Nama and Kyampisi sub-counties in Mukono district.
The organisers opted to boost the learners’ new school curriculum hands-on training by taking them for an on-the-spot study tour.
The learners were hosted as NaFORRI together with other National Agricultural Research Institute (NALI) under National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) celebrated the belated International Day of Forests, two weeks later than the official date which fell on March 21st.
The learners were accompanied by their teachers and conducted around on a guided tour by a NaFORRI Research Officer, Dr. Odoi Juventine Boaz, and Dianah Namayanja, an entomologist at the institute.
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They were treated to a half day of training on growing fast maturing cloned species of the eucalyptus tree known for a sustainable supply of quality timber, cloned coffee, chariandra plant, an animal feed supplement and a source for injecting nitrogen in the soil, and the keeping of domesticated honey bees.
They were drawn from St. Soteri Junior School, Mpoma Royal College, Mpoma Girls School, Cornerstone Junior School Legacy Campus and Lincoln High School. During their practical session, the learners participated by exhibiting skills of what they had learnt including cloning of coffee cuttings, under instructions by Dr. Odoi.
Dianah Namayanja an entomology researcher, gave them tips on the dos and don’ts of bee keeping, a background on the lifestyles of bees, and the best practices for safe honey harvesting.
The learners latter joined other NARO and NaFORRI officials to plant fruit trees as a landmark for the day.
In an interview, Namayanja said their guests of the day were a rare class, adding that they normally receive research students and interns on field attachment, and attributed the attraction of the day’s guests to the rare apiary component at NaFORRI.
Emmanuel Malala, a teacher at Mpoma Royal College noted that although they have their own models at school, they will lobby for more regular visits NaFORRI so as to benefit more of their learners in future.
Apparently drawn by the new hands-on training modules in schools, the learners exhibited a lot of interest in the field session as testified by their numerous questions and eagerness to learn more.
Muliika Jamir of P7 at St. Soteri Junior School wanted to know why bees die after stinging people, and was informed that it is because after injecting the sting inside the body of their victims, their abdomens are irreparably damaged.
Mulisa Genesis of S6 at Mpoma Royal College inquired how bee venom, known for its medicinal and other values, is collected and he was given an explanation of how the bees are enticed into secreting their venom on staged surfaces from where it is collected.
Francis Mawanda of P7 at St. Soteri Junior School asked why young plantlets are kept under green houses where the supply of air is limited, and he got the explanation that at their stage, the plantlets want limited air.
The learners were further engaged by the Deputy Director General NARO, Dr. Sadik Kassim to mention the five core values of forests. Dr. Kassim awarded the students that gave him the best answers.
