Training of Agricultural Professionals in Uganda started in 1924 when a Technical School was established on Makerere Hill to offer intermediate education in lead subjects of Agriculture, Medicine Education and Veterinary Sciences. A Certificate in Agriculture was awarded after three years of training. In 1936 the course was strengthened by introducing basic science subjects, extending the duration from three to five years and upgrading from a certificate to a Diploma award in Agriculture.

These evolutionary aspects were a result of the De la Wair commission which recommended that Makerere becomes the center of Higher Education serving the needs of all East Africa territories of Kenya Tanganyika, Zanzibar and Uganda. The college of Agriculture at Makerere thus started admitting larger numbers of students (40) in 1937, which was comparable to other courses such as medicine.

The subsequent developments lead to Makerere establishing a special relationship with the University of London in 1948 (as a constituent college of London University). In the process Professor Fergus Wilson was recruited to become the first Dean to fill the chair of the college of Agriculture at Makerere. Professor Wilson assumed his duties in 1952. He is credited for establishing the Faculty building on the main campus (1957) and the training/research infrastructure at the then Kabanyolo University Farm (presently, MUARIK).

1970-1971 Agriculture & Forestry Intake

The admission of the first intake of students in 1958, to pursue degree courses at Makerere, in Agriculture marked the span of the first full course (1958/1961) for the BSc. in Agriculture Science of the University of London. In 1961 the final batch of Diploma students completed their 3-year training while the first batch of 9 students completed their BSc. Agriculture Sciences.

From 1961 the number of Departments increased from a single Department of Agriculture to three as follows:-

Department of Agriculture
Agriculture, Crop Husbandry, Animal Husbandry, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics and the University Farm

Department of Agricultural Biology
Agricultural Botany and Agricultural Zoology

Department of Agricultural Chemistry
Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science

1971-1972 Agriculture & Forestry Intake

In 1967 the number of departments expanded from three to five; namely;
Crop Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Chemistry and Agricultural Economics

In 1971, the number of Departments increased to six, with the establishment of the Department of Forestry which also changed the name to Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. However, in 1998 the Department of Forestry became a separate Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation.

The present Faculty of Agriculture comprises of seven departments namely; Animal Science, Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Extension Education, Crop Science, Food Science and Technology and Soil Science.

1972-1973 Agriculture & Forestry Intake