By John Jimmy Musimbi

What does it take to turn a mulberry leaf into an opportunity for jobs, enterprise and community transformation?

At Namasumbi in Mukono District, Parliament’s Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation saw the answer taking shape.

During an oversight visit to TRIDI’s Namasumbi Sericulture Station, the Committee witnessed practical activities across different stages of the silk value chain from healthy mulberry gardens and silkworm rearing to feeding larvae, harvesting cocoons and ongoing experiments and demonstrations on the different stages involved in transforming cocoons into silk yarn.

Namasumbi was the fourth TRIDI sericulture station inspected by the Committee during its oversight assessment of the organisation’s sericulture investments.

The visit brought into focus both the potential of Uganda’s emerging silk industry and the importance of protecting investments that can create sustainable livelihoods for communities.

A value chain taking shape

Unlike a project that exists only on paper, Namasumbi demonstrated practical activity across key stages of the sericulture value chain.

The Committee observed well-maintained mulberry gardens, with the crop providing the essential feed for silkworm larvae. The station also demonstrated the rearing of silkworm eggs, feeding of larvae and harvesting of cocoons, the critical raw material from which silk yarn is produced.

At the processing stage, TRIDI is undertaking experiments and practical demonstrations on different stages of silk-yarn production, testing processes through which cocoons can be transformed into usable silk fibre and, ultimately, yarn.

The work is part of TRIDI’s effort to understand, refine and demonstrate the technical processes required to establish a viable domestic silk-processing industry.

The station is therefore not yet at full-scale silk-yarn production; rather, the ongoing experiments are helping to build the technical knowledge and practical capacity needed to move towards production.

For TRIDI, this represents the wider vision behind its sericulture programme: developing an integrated value chain that links agricultural production to processing, skills development, employment and industrial opportunities.

Communities see the opportunity

The potential of the project is already reflected in the experiences of people living around Namasumbi.

Rashid Ssekandi, Vice Chairperson of Kwaba LC1, told the Committee that the sericulture project had created hope for improved livelihoods and infrastructure in the community.

He appealed for the restoration and strengthening of the project, particularly because residents had anticipated benefits such as employment and improved roads.

For farmers, the project had also created a market for mulberry.

James Lubega, a former casual worker at the station, explained that farmers had previously invested heavily in mulberry production to supply TRIDI.

With reduced project activity, some farmers have shifted to other crops such as coffee, raising concerns about how to protect those who invested in mulberry specifically for the sericulture value chain.

The project’s economic footprint also extends to small businesses. A Namasumbi resident who previously sold samosas to TRIDI workers told the Committee that the slowdown in activity had affected her business.

These experiences demonstrate the wider economic ecosystem that can develop around a productive industrial project.

Parliament calls for investment and accountability

During the visit, Hon. Jamal Ayagalaki, MP for Bukooli North, called for continued Government support for TRIDI, noting that communities ultimately lose when funding challenges stall development initiatives.

At the same time, he emphasised the need for TRIDI to manage the project effectively so that local communities realise tangible benefits from the investment.

The message reflects the shared responsibility required to make development projects succeed. Government must support strategic investments, while implementing institutions must ensure resources are managed efficiently and communities benefit.

The Committee’s acting Chairperson, Kashari County MP Hon. Patrick Musasizi, also reiterated his earlier position that Government and TRIDI could consider concentrating resources on fully operationalising one model sericulture station before expanding further.

The approach, he argued, could help demonstrate clear results and create a stronger model for future expansion.

Securing the foundation for long-term investment

TRIDI Executive Director Dr. Clet Wandui Masiga called for support from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and Parliament to help resolve a land matter affecting the Namasumbi station.

Dr. Masiga explained that TRIDI initially secured a 55 year lease arrangement with the Catholic Churchfor the site, but that the Diocese later revised the lease period to five years.

For an investment involving mulberry plantations, infrastructure, skills development and processing, long-term land security is essential.

Resolving the matter would provide a stronger foundation for protecting existing investments and planning the station’s future development.

From experiments to industrial production

The Namasumbi visit demonstrated something important: Uganda already has the foundations for a domestic silk value chain, while practical work is continuing to establish the processing capacity needed to complete it.

The mulberry is growing, silkworms are being reared, cocoons are being produced and experiments at the station are helping to demonstrate and refine the different processes required to transform cocoons into silk yarn.

The opportunity now is to strengthen the systems, investment, technical capacity and partnerships that can move these experiments towards consistent, commercial-scale silk-yarn production and wider community benefits.

For TRIDI, the parliamentary oversight provides an important platform to highlight the potential of sericulture while working with Government, Parliament, local leaders and communities to address the challenges that stand between investment and full scale impact.

From the mulberry leaf to the cocoon, and from the cocoon through the experimental stages of yarn production, Namasumbi is demonstrating the potential of Uganda’s sericulture future and why strengthening this value chain matters.