Jakisa is a land rights activist, an agroecologist and a smallholder family farmer from Dei in Pakwach District in the Albertine region of Uganda. His work is grounded in the belief that peasant families, fisher communities, pastoralists and other rural dwellers play an essential role in global food security, yet receive very little support on the African continent. He advocates for a future in which local and Indigenous communities have secure access to land, water and traditional seeds and can cultivate their farms sustainably and ecologically.
Jakisa works with farmers, landowners and community foresters to promote agroecology, protect biodiversity and strengthen resilience to climate change. He supports community efforts to preserve traditional farming knowledge, diversify crops and protect natural ecosystems. His approach enables rural families to adapt to changing rainfall patterns, conserve soils and produce food without degrading the environment.
He also champions the rights of small farmers to participate in value chains and reach markets where they can sell their produce at fair prices. In his view, economic justice and ecological sustainability go hand in hand. His mobilisation work has helped many rural households reclaim confidence in their farming systems and manage natural resources responsibly.
The Kilimo Environmental Prize recognised Jakisa for his courage, his commitment to defending land rights and his leadership in advancing community based agroecology in the Albertine region. His work demonstrates how rural farmers can protect biodiversity while cultivating their land in ways that sustain both people and nature.
