Lira, Northern Uganda | 29-30 April 2026
At the Peanut Research and Processing Centre of the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), based in Lira City, a new chapter of resilience was written.
For two days, the Centre hosted and trained the first cohort of women landmine survivors in peanut butter value addition, equipping them with practical skills in quality processing and aflatoxin control to help them build sustainable livelihoods.
Training with Purpose: Skills for Independence
The women who participated are members of ASNU - Amputee Self-help Network Uganda, drawn from Pader, Kitgum and Lira districts in Northern Uganda. Many of them are survivors of the LRA conflict and have rebuilt their lives despite physical challenges.
The training focused on two critical areas:
- Quality Peanut Butter Processing: From proper selection and roasting of peanuts to milling, packaging and branding to meet market standards.
- Aflatoxin Prevention and Removal: Trainees learned how to identify contaminated nuts, practise safe drying and storage, and apply simple techniques to reduce aflatoxin risk so the final product is safe, healthy and market-ready.
Facilitators from UIRI's team of food scientists and technologists took the women through hands-on sessions, allowing each participant to process her own batch from start to finish.
From Peanuts to Possibility
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More Than Training - It Is About Dignity
For ASNU, this training is about restoring independence. Peanut butter is in high demand in schools, institutions and households across Uganda, and with the right skills, these women can tap into that market.
“We have the will, and we have each other. Now we also have the skills. This training gives us hope that we can support our families with dignity.”
The initiative aligns with UIRI's mandate to transfer technology to communities and support vulnerable groups in productive, income-generating activities. By focusing on quality and safety, UIRI helps ensure that products from this group can compete in formal markets and meet UNBS standards.
The Peanut Research and Processing Centre in Lira is mandated to support value addition in the peanut sub-sector in Northern Uganda. This training marks the beginning of a longer engagement with ASNU, with plans for follow-up mentorship, market linkages and access to processing services at the Centre.
Building Forward Together
UIRI believes industrialisation should be inclusive. By supporting women in ASNU, we create not just peanut products, but also opportunities and a stronger future.
Are you part of a farming group, NGO or organisation seeking training or contract processing at the UIRI Lira Peanut Research and Processing Centre? Reach out to us and join our efforts to build value chains that support and uplift local communities.