The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has entered a five-year partnership with China’s Southwest Minzu University (SMU) to strengthen Uganda’s capacity to detect, diagnose and control livestock diseases through joint research, laboratory development and scientific training.
The collaboration, which focuses on animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, is expected to improve disease surveillance, enhance veterinary diagnostic technologies and build Uganda’s scientific capacity to respond to livestock disease outbreaks.
The partnership was initiated during a meeting between NARO management and a delegation from Southwest Minzu University led by the university’s Vice President, Professor Yang Shengtao, at Fontis Residences Hotel in Kampala on Wednesday.
Dr Halid Kirunda, a veterinary epidemiologist and research leader at NARO who is coordinating the initiative, said the partnership will be implemented through a five-year project that is currently being developed.
He said Uganda continues to face more than 30 livestock diseases, making disease diagnosis and control a major challenge for farmers and veterinary professionals.
“The partnership will enable NARO and Southwest Minzu University to undertake joint research in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine while developing practical diagnostic technologies that allow farmers and veterinary professionals to detect and respond to livestock diseases more quickly,” Dr Kirunda said.
NARO Director General Dr Yona Baguma said the collaboration would strengthen Uganda’s livestock disease research capacity and support the development of affordable diagnostic technologies that can be deployed closer to farming communities.
He said the country’s veterinary laboratory system still requires significant investment to effectively detect and respond to highly infectious animal diseases.
“We need better tools to detect, prevent and manage livestock diseases. Strengthening our laboratory systems is essential if we are to safeguard Uganda’s livestock sector and improve farmers’ livelihoods,” Dr Baguma said.
According to Baguma, recurring livestock disease outbreaks continue to undermine productivity and household incomes despite the sector’s significant contribution to Uganda’s economy.He said the partnership is expected to generate technologies and innovations that will benefit not only Uganda but also other countries in the region.
Professor Yang Shengtao described the collaboration as Southwest Minzu University’s first formal research partnership in Africa.
He said the university has extensive expertise in animal husbandry and veterinary sciences, particularly in research involving cattle, sheep and poultry, and hopes to share that experience with Ugandan scientists.
“We want to work with NARO to improve animal health through research, establish modern laboratory capacity in Uganda and create training opportunities for Ugandan students and scientists,” Professor Yang said.He added that the partnership would promote scientific exchange between the two institutions while supporting innovations to improve livestock production and disease control.
The meeting brought together directors from NARO’s nine Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institutes, as well as representatives from the National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL), the National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI) and the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI).
The collaboration adds to NARO’s growing portfolio of international research partnerships. The organisation is already working with China’s BGI Group on perennial rice research as part of broader efforts to strengthen agricultural innovation and food security.
While both institutions expressed optimism about the partnership, they did not disclose the project’s budget or indicate when implementation of the five-year programme would begin-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
