Irrigation technology utilization: A case of central Uganda Teddy Kizza 1 , Winfred Nakyagaba 1 , LosiraNasirumbi 1, Nicolas Kigundu 2 , Damalie B. Magala 1 , Monica Muyinda 1 , Teopista Namirimu 1 and Dan Kirimani 3 1 NARO, Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute 2 Department of Agricultural and Bio systems Engineering, Makerere University 3 Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) Abstract Products of irrigated agriculture are at low demand in many Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) countries yet forcing factors for national food self sufficiency are prevalent. This study aimed at understanding the causes for low irrigation adoption and to generate information for improved utilisation. Individual house hold surveys were conducted among 138 vegetable growing households and focus group discussions (FGD) were held with key informants in 4 sub counties in 2012. The results were updated in 2016 among 32 farmers through information sharing meetings. The results indicated that most farmers (77.5%) still used watering cans for irrigating their crops of average 0.5 acres (±0.35). High cost ranked 1 st among prohibiting factors to uptake of modern equipment. Lack of water in the uplands coupled with limited knowledge of water harvesting techniques (1% use) restricted commercial vegetable production to low and wetlands. Key words: Irrigation technology, utilisation, Uganda 1.1. Introduction Informal small scale irrigation practice in Uganda dates way back to the 1940s and formal irrigation development started in 1960s (.fortuneofafrica,no year.... ). Data from this source indicated that 8 irrigation schemes were established by government between 1970 and 2001. Of these, 7 were in Eastern and 1 in western region. By the year 2006, irrigated land ranged between (0-10 %) of potential irrigable area FAO (2006), with the highest percentage in Eastern region. For most part of central Uganda, irrigated land was reported at (0-1) % of irrigable land. Low irrigation coverage was still identified among the top ten challenges to agriculture in the year 2016, (The statehouse of Uganda, 2016) indicating a persistent low trend of adoption. The government is encouraging farmers to engage in irrigation due to the sporadic droughts that have threatened food security in the country. Irrigation is promoted under the premise that it improves food security and that farmers have been sensitised by the extreme events to its necessity. The factors that have led to the slow adoption rate of irrigated agriculture are however not discussed. Farmers seem to appreciate the fact that irrigation enhances productivity but their reluctance to use it remains a ‘paradox’. This study was conducted with aim to document the major irrigation