Uganda comprises of a range of watersheds, most of which are vulnerable and merit considerable attention particularly in areas where agriculture is a key activity. With the growing uncertainties regarding rainfall patterns and distribution, along with severe soil fertility decline, soil erosion, floods, management is imperative or otherwise can lead to nutrient enrichment and silting of water systems of communities resident in the low lying grounds. This can result in decimation of critical components of agro-ecologies in the disadvantaged areas, leading to reduction in the quality of community livelihoods.  It is, therefore, imperative that biophysical and socio-economic intervention efforts among watershed communities are implemented at watershed level rather than at individual farm level as hitherto practiced.

Indeed, the power engine for achieving the integrated watershed approach to community development is a paradigm shift to producing professionals uniquely skilled to implement development programmes in the context of a watershed and communities therein rather than targeting single farms as is done conventionally. This form of capacity is evidently lacking in sub-Saharan Africa, yet there are parts of the world where significant benefits have been realised from implementation community development programmes on the basis of watersheds (Wani et al., 2002) 

In light of the above considerations, the Department of Agricultural Production together with two other Universities in East Africa, namely, Kenyatta University, and University of Dar-es-salam, held a series of discussions that led to a consensus that a regional Degree Programme at Masters level be established at Makerere University to produce the required professional human resource, that will catalyse proliferation of training of various cadre personnel for the region. The proposed Degree is “Master of Science in Integrated Watershed Management. Initially, the European Union through ‘the Capacity Building for Integrated Watershed Management project’ is committed to support the institutional partnership and also provide seed funding for some infrastructure including some scholarships.