Sekama Internship Program | Luwero District, Uganda
At Sekama, we believe some of the most valuable learning happens when students step beyond the classroom and work alongside farmers. The Sekama Internship Program at Penah Mixed Farm in Luwero District was created for exactly that purpose: to help students learn by doing, understand real farm challenges and contribute practical ideas.
The students took part in dairy cattle management, coffee and banana production, vegetable gardening, farm record keeping, team discussions and other farm activities. They learned to assess animals, support treatment, milk and feed cattle, care for crops, manage time and work as a team. Weekly meetings and guidance from Penah Farm, Kampala International University (KIU), Sekama and guest mentors helped connect these daily activities to their studies and future careers.
Feedback from seven students shows that the approach made a difference. Every student rated the experience Good or Excellent, and all said it had influenced their career plans. Five had already applied knowledge or skills gained during the internship. All were also Likely or Very likely to remain connected with their mentors and fellow students.
Practical demonstrations stood out as the most helpful mentoring activity, selected by five of the seven students. Students reported particularly strong improvement in crop production and teamwork. They also described greater confidence in managing livestock and crop enterprises. One intern said the experience provided hands-on technical skills that books do not teach. Another described treating a cow with East Coast Fever and seeing it recover as an unforgettable moment.
Learning across borders. The students also benefited from the experience of Canadian farmer Steve Veldman, who provided feedback and participated in reviews of their work. Steve is a member of the Board of Directors of Gay Lea Foods Co-operative and was recognized by the Oxford County Federation of Agriculture with its 2024 Agricultural Hall of Fame Award. His involvement gave students a valuable connection between hands-on farming, agricultural leadership and the wider co-operative sector.
The feedback also gives us a clear path for improvement. Students asked for clearer weekly learning objectives, a structured rotation across farm sections and more time to practise. They want greater exposure to agribusiness, value addition, modern farm technologies, irrigation and climate-smart agriculture. Some also requested learning opportunities in poultry, beekeeping, sheep and pig production.
Community engagement is another area we will strengthen. Although students gained confidence in livestock, crops and farm records, only two of seven felt more confident working with communities. Future cycles should give every intern a structured opportunity to speak with farmers, share knowledge or participate in outreach.
The strongest message from the students is that the internship should continue. They valued the practical work, supportive supervision, hospitality and professional connections. For the next cycle, Sekama will work with its partners to preserve these strengths while adding clearer learning plans, broader exposure and stronger links between farm practice, business and community service.
Sekama sincerely thanks Penah Farm and KIU for mentoring the students and creating a supportive environment for practical learning. We also thank Steve Veldman for sharing his time, experience and feedback throughout the review process. Their contributions helped students connect classroom knowledge with real farm practice and professional leadership.
The goal remains simple: give emerging agricultural professionals the experience, confidence and relationships they need to turn knowledge into practical solutions for farmers.
About the feedback: Results are based on seven student responses collected after the internship. They provide useful direction for program improvement but should be interpreted as a small cohort.