Makerere University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs (DVC AA) has today officiated at the launch of a project that will see the Institution take lead in building capacity in Zoonotic Disease Management. The CAPAZOMANINTECO project will use an integrated ecosystem health approach to manage human diseases of animal origin such as Ebola in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Speaking at the launch, the DVC AA, Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang appreciated the support given to Makerere University by the Norwegian Government.The CAPAZOMANINTECO project is one of the 9 projects funded by the Norwegian Program for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED) at Makerere University.

NORHED aims at increasing higher education and capacity building in low and middle income countries to increase incomes and reduce poverty.

Spearheaded by the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB), CAPAZOMANINTECO is a collaborative effort of 4 universities: University of Zambia, University of Barl El Gazal (South Sudan), Norwegian University of Life Sciences and Makerere University, which is also the grant recipient.

Dr. Okello Ogwang saluted the country management team for the concerns in terms of public health raised by this project, which he said, “bring all of us together."

According to Dr. Clovice Kankya, the Project Coordinator Makerere University, the project will improve the health and wellbeing of people in the participating countries of Uganda, Zambia and South Sudan through strengthening education and research.

Dr. Jessica Nakavuma, Deputy Principal, CoVAB expressed gratitude to NORHED for availing what is needed to build capacity and stressed that Makerere was prepared to effectively manage the project.

"I am confident that Makerere University under the coordination of Dr. Clovice Kankya shall achieve the desired goals of this project", said Dr. Nakavuma.

Dr. Kankya explained that the project will improve research capacity in zoonoses, food system and food safety issues within universities and public health sectors. He also noted that the timing for the launch could not have been better.

"The launch of this project is timely due to re-emerging threats like Ebola that the region is grappling with" he said. He further stated that in order to effectively manage such diseases, the project will employ the One Health approach of integrating different disciplines to promote health.

Professor Eystein Skjerve, the Project Coordinator, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) explained that Norway has had a long historical collaboration with Uganda and Zambia in zoonotic diseases since 2001.

"Uganda is the biggest partner of NORHED since its launch in 2012", noted Professor Skjerve. He said that of recent, Norway has been involved in developing the young state of South Sudan and that NMBU's main role in the CAPAZOMANINTECO project will be to complement research and teaching capacity in the 3 participating countries.

According to Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza, Director Research and Graduate Training, the launch symbolized the nature and character of several other collaborations that Makerere is engaged in.

"Records show that Makerere and her partners have over the years propelled the research agenda together. We shall continue to consolidate and develop research through strengthening research capacity." Prof. Buyinza said.

Among the deliverables of this project is support to researchers at Masters and Doctoral level. 6 PhD students, 2 from each of the participating countries presented their research proposals during the launch. The beneficiaries are enrolled in the University of Zambia, Makerere University and Norwegian University of Life Sciences. “The students will each carry out research within their respective countries of origin, as is the requirement of the project” noted Dr. Kankya

Story by Jovia Musubika (CoVAB) and Prossy Nabatte