Veterinary & Biosecurity
Mak, Alfasan Sign Anti-Tick Vaccine Production MoU
Makerere University on Friday 19th March, 2021 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alfasan Uganda Limited to facilitate production of test batches of the Anti-Tick Vaccine developed by the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB). The MoU was signed on behalf of Makerere University by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and on behalf of Alfasan by the Managing Director Dr. Stephen Birungi. The Principal CoVAB-Prof. John David Kabasa, Anti-Tick Vaccine Initiative Principal Investigator (PI)-Dr. Margaret Saimo-Kahwa and Acting (Ag.) Manager Intellectual Property Management Office (IPMO)-Canon Goddy Muhumuza signed as witnesses.
The Anti-Tick Vaccine Initiative is hosted under the Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health, CoVAB. According to the Prof. Kabasa, the Centre was one of the milestones endorsed by the University when the then faculty to college transition was proposed. “I am happy to report that the Centre is being vigorously supported by the Government to undertake activities of vaccine development together with other scientists.”
He thanked the Vice Chancellor always taking keen interest in the multidisciplinary programmes undertaken by the college with a view improving the livelihoods of both small and large scale livestock farmers. He equally lauded the CoVAB scientists for their efforts to develop the Anti-Tick Vaccine and stakeholders such as the Africa Institute for Strategic Animal Resource Services and Development (AFRISA), Centre of Tropical Medicine and the Ruth Keesling Wildlife Health, Research and Outreach Centre (RK_WHERE) for their support.
Unveiling the research challenge and solution, the PI Dr. Margaret Saimo-Kahwa noted that ticks as vectors for diseases like East Coast Fever are an economic threat to farmers with herds of exotic breeds, their crosses and increasingly, local breeds raised in a tick-free environment. Furthermore, common tick species in Uganda have developed resistance to acaricides used in spraying as a method of their control. This resistance is further exacerbated by acaricide contamination of the environment, leading to residues in animal products like milk and meat, which have implications on human health.
“Therefore, alternative methods like anti-tick vaccines that reduce the use of acaricides are urgently needed to protect the livestock sector that plays a role in poverty reduction and contributes at least 3.2% to Uganda’s GDP, which is equivalent to about 1 Trillion Uganda Shillings” said Dr. Saimo-Kahwa.
The efficacy of any innovation is measured by how well it has worked elsewhere. The Anti-Tick Vaccine Initiative therefore sought inspiration from Australia, where the first anti-tick vaccine was developed in the 1980s as well as Cuba where the vaccines have been used successfully for over 20 years. Gleaning further from Brazil, the team used biotechnology approaches to develop antigens that can target the ticks in Uganda.
“Testing of these molecules under laboratory conditions with funding from the Government of Uganda has been done” remarked the Principal Investigator before adding, “The next step is to test these molecules in clinical trials. However, the molecules should be manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and not under laboratory conditions.”
Dr. Saimo-Kahwa at this point thanked the President, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, whose advice led the research team to the GMP-certified Alfasan Uganda Limited. “These negotiations have been fruitful, leading to the drafting of a memorandum of understanding for production of test batches of the potential vaccine, with funding from Government of Uganda.”
Dr. Stephen Birungi a Makerere University alumnus from CoVAB was all praises for his alma mater and commended Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe for ushering in era of innovation in the short time he has served as Vice Chancellor. “If we are seeing a threat to the livestock industry, we need to act now to save the 20-30% of Uganda’s 15million head of cattle that we lose annually due to tick-borne diseases.”
He reassured all present that Alfasan, a private company certified for the production of veterinary biologicals, was fully committed to improving the livelihood of Ugandan livestock farmers by partnering with the Government of Uganda and institutions such as Makerere University.
“Alfasan as a factory that was born out of partnership between Uganda and Holland is ready to give the facilities that will convert this beautiful innovation from Makerere; once again proving that Makerere is not just a theoretical teaching institution but is ready to bring out those products that can change lives in our country” affirmed Dr. Birungi.
He thanked Makerere University for recognizing the need to produce homegrown vaccines, noting that imported batches tend become less efficacious after multiple applications due to varying protein compositions of the ticks in countries where the remedies originate and Uganda.
“It is therefore important that Government doubles the effort to support CoVAB and Makerere University so that we don’t only stop at this solution but go out and solve even bigger problems using research that has been proven such as this anti-tick vaccine” Dr. Birungi added.
Makerere University is home to a number of innovations, whose number keeps growing thanks to generous funding from the Government and other partners. In recognition of the need to translate these innovations into commercially viable products, the University introduced an Intellectual Property Management Office and appointed Canon Goddy Muhumuza as Ag. Manager. Guiding the MoU signing ceremony, Canon Muhumuza, who also doubles as Principal Legal Officer, made specific mention of the clause on “Ownership” clarifying that Makerere University shall own the patent of the vaccine.
“A new dawn is setting on Makerere University. Makerere University is becoming a truly international research university,” commenced the Vice Chancellor as he made closing remarks following the brief MoU signing and exchange ceremony.
He thanked Dr. Saimo-Kahwa for her great work and mentorship as shown by the constitution of her team, mainly made up of young people. The team is made up of Scientists; Dr. Olaho Mukhani William, Dr. Kokas Ikwap, Dr. Mukiibi Herbert, Dr. Ochwo Sylvester, Dr. Musadha Zachary and Mr. Peregrine Sebulime.
In order to study the life and breeding cycles of ticks, the Initiative included a specialist (Acarologist), Mr. Charles Ssekitto. Technicians who form part of the team include; Mr. Geoffrey Ssentamu, Mr. Nalumenya David, Ms. Namubiru Sarah and Mr. Abubaker Musoba. Mr. Gerald Brooks Musinguzi is in charge of Communication while Ms. Kaudha Rose is the Administrator.
The Vice Chancellor noted that the capacity to develop vaccines was evidence of attaining to the highest levels of research capacity and expressed great pride to learn that the team was completely Ugandan. He thanked the Government of Uganda for the heavily investing in research at Makerere University and reminded staff of their obligation to give back to the taxpayers by providing good accountability.
“I must thank the leadership of the college for the great work they are doing. Professor Kabasa is passionate about Makerere and Uganda and what we should be doing to develop our country” remarked Prof. Nawangwe.
Results from the trials conducted so far showed that the overall efficacy of the vaccine candidate proteins was 86% for R appendiculatas (the brown ear tick) that transmits East Coast Fever (ECF) and 53% for R decoloratus that transmits Babesiosis. “If this vaccine can reduce the burden of tick borne diseases, we will have through one single innovation made a huge contribution to solving one of Uganda’s biggest problems.”
Prof. Nawangwe thanked Alfasan Uganda Limited for being pioneers in implementing academia-private sector collaboration. “As we come up with more innovations and move towards being a research-led University, it is inevitable that we have to work with the private sector, and I thank Managing Director for this gesture… you are a good alumnus.”
This MoU marks the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial partnership between academia and the private sector. The Anti-Tick Vaccine Initiative intends to expand the immunization to include more animals and carry out a clinical trial to determine the appropriate dosage and schedule. Furthermore, the Anti-Tick Vaccine candidate proteins offer more opportunities to include other candidate vaccine proteins of other cattle diseases into the combination.
The event was moderated by the Principal Public Relations Officer, Ms. Ritah Namisango and the Communication Officer CoVAB, Mr. Gerald Brooks Musinguzi.
Article by Public Relations Office
Veterinary & Biosecurity
Makerere Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health partner with VIQAP Consultancy Services and Stakeholders to Strengthen Biorisk Management Capacity among Laboratory Technologists
From 20th to 22nd October 2025, the Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) at COVAB, Makerere University, in collaboration with VIQAP Consultancy Services, the Uganda Medical Laboratory Technologists Association (UMLTA), the Biosafety and Biosecurity Association of Uganda (BBAU), and the Uganda National Health Laboratories and Diagnostic Services, conducted a three-day Biorisk Management (Biosafety and Biosecurity) training which happened in the CeBIGH Conference room.
The training was part of an ongoing campaign to provide Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for laboratory professionals working across various sectors—including human health, animal health, environmental, biocontainment, and research laboratories. Participants included government and private laboratory technologists, graduate students of MSc Global Biosecurity and Infectious Disease Management, Clinical Epidemiology, Biomedical Laboratory Technology, as well as early-career biomedical scientists.
Building Competence in Biorisk Management
The Facilitation of the three-day training was led by Mr. JohnBaptist Galiwango, a certified Biorisk Management Professional by the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA) and Research Assistant in the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP), COVAB.
Participants were equipped with both theoretical and practical knowledge in key areas such as:
Biosafety and biosecurity principles and practices, Biorisk Management International standards and frameworks (ISO 35001, ISO 15189, ISO 15190, BWC, UNSCR, Cartagena Protocol), Risk management and the AMP model (Assessment, Mitigation, Performance Evaluation), Laboratory design, operations, and biological waste management, Introduction to Cyberbiosecurity and Dual-Use Research of Concern (DURC) and Introduction to Emerging technologies and responsible life sciences research.
Mr. Galiwango emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration among public and private laboratory stakeholders to strengthen Uganda’s preparedness for potential emerging and re-emerging Biothreats and “Disease X.” He highlighted that a resilient laboratory system, supported by competent and well-trained personnel, is crucial in the era of rapid technological advancement. He also noted that over 200 professionals expressed interest in participating, but only a limited number could be accommodated due to resource constraints—underscoring the urgent need for more such capacity-building programs in the future.
Stakeholders’ Reflections and Commitments
Ms. Viola Nakidde, Managing Director of VIQAP Consultancy Services, expressed her appreciation to Makerere CeBIGH for hosting the training and for its continued commitment to professional development in the laboratory field. She reaffirmed VIQAP’s dedication to partnering with academic and professional institutions to close knowledge gaps among laboratory professionals through other CPD programs such as Internal Auditing, Laboratory Leadership and Management training and ISO Standards Implementation and support for laboratory accreditation processes.
The training was officially opened by Prof. Clovice Kankya, Head of the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health , who commended the organizing team led by Mr. Galiwango and Ms. Nakidde. He encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained for both personal and institutional growth and to seek further learning opportunities in biosafety and biosecurity.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Joseph Nkodyo, National Coordinator for Biosafety and Biosecurity Programs at the Ministry of Health, pledged continued government support for private sector partners such as VIQAP Consultancy to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity systems across Uganda’s laboratories. He urged participants to apply their new skills in daily operations and to engage in research advancing biosafety and biosecurity in Uganda.
Figure 9: Some of the participants pose for a Photo with Mr Joseph Nkodyo (In the Middle)- The National Coordinator of Biosafety and Biosecurity programs from Ministry of Health.
Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony and award of certificate was presided over by COVAB’s Prof. Lawrence Mugisha, who doubles as the Chairperson of the National Biosafety Committee under the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST). He applauded the initiative, noting that CeBIGH was the ideal venue for such technical trainings.
Figure 12: Prof Lawrence Mugisha- the Chairperson of the National Biosafety Committee awarding Certificate to one of the active participants during the closure of the activity.
Prof. Mugisha underscored the importance of biosafety and biosecurity in the era of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). He urged participants to deepen their understanding of Cyberbiosecurity, Dual-Use Research of Concern (DURC), and Gain-of-Function (GoF) Research, emphasizing responsible conduct in life sciences as a cornerstone for global health security.
Participant Feedback
Participants expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity, describing the training as a transformative experience that enhanced their professional competence. Many participants appreciated the practical and interactive approach of the facilitators and called for more frequent and sustained training programs to reach a broader group of professionals across Uganda.
Veterinary & Biosecurity
Tracking Trails Project Launched at Makerere University to Study Free-Roaming Dogs and Disease Spread across Five Nations
In a groundbreaking advancement for zoonotic disease research, Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) inaugurated the Tracking Trails project, an ambitious, transnational research initiative that aims to expose the spatiotemporal dynamics of free-roaming dogs and their epidemiological implications, particularly concerning rabies.
This endeavor brings together expertise from Uganda, Chad, India, Indonesia, and Switzerland, exemplifying an ideal One Health model. It integrates epidemiology, ecology, veterinary medicine, genomics, and socio-cultural anthropology, forging a transdisciplinary approach to health that is as inclusive as it is innovative.
The project under the department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health at CoVAB was officially launched at Fairway Hotel in in Kampala on October 16th 2025, at a ceremony attended by a consortium of national and international collaborators.
Dr. Salome Dürr of the University of Bern, the principal investigator, underscored the imperative of comprehending canine mobility not solely through the prism of rabies, but as a broader vector of zoonotic pathogen transmission. “Our inquiry transcends mere rabies surveillance, we intend to interrogate the health ramifications of canine movement,” she said.
Uganda as the Initial Epicenter
Uganda has been strategically designated as the inaugural locus for implementation, owing to its heterogeneous demographic fabric, divided into urban and rural ecosystems, alongside its ongoing national rabies eradication agenda. Research operations will span five districts of Kyegegwa, Masaka, Arua, Soroti, and Kampala, each offering varied ecological and socio-cultural matrices.
Dr. Terence Odoch, the Co – Principal Investigator from CoVAB Makerere University, emphasized the twofold imperative of generating actionable scientific evidence while concurrently cultivating academic capacity through the active inclusion of postgraduate cohorts.
He said what distinguishes the Tracking Trails project is its integrative methodological representation that includes GPS telemetry, behavioral ecology, socio-cultural ethnography, and genomic analysis converge to address critical interrogatives, he said while giving a brief about the project. Why do dogs roam? In what ways are they embedded within human ecologies? Which movement vectors potentiate pathogen propagation? Interventions, he noted, must be established upon the understanding of these dynamics, rather than simplistic vaccination paradigms.
Contextual Complexity across Continents
During the launch, the different implementing countries made brief report about the status of their intended interventions and the prevailing circumstances. It was reported that in Chad, nomadic pastoralism renders canine mobility both indispensable and problematic. Professor Fayiz Abakar emphasized that prior vaccination efforts in N’Djamena achieved epidemiologically significant coverage only when rendered cost-free, underscoring the primacy of accessibility and public engagement.
For India, one of the implementing countries, it was reported that this was a home to an estimated 60 million canines, struggling with a paradoxical cultural disposition that is also spiritual in nature coupled with neglect and abandonment. Dr. Harish Tiwari delineated contrasting rural-urban movement ecologies, revealing expanded urban ranges and increased aggression post-COVID.
For the case of Indonesia, the situation of free roaming dogs was no any better given the socio-religiously complex set up and the endemic rabies in 26 provinces. Dr. Ewaldus Wera described distinctive behavioral adaptations in rural versus urban dogs across Flores, Lombok, and West Timor. Underscoring logistical impediments to surveillance in topographically inaccessible locales.
Rabies as a Persistent Global Threat
During the launch, officiated by CoVAB’s Deputy Principal Prof. James Acai Okwee on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe , it was explained that rabies continues to pose a formidable public health threat, remaining a virulent zoonosis with a near-100% case fatality rate once clinical symptoms appear , despite being entirely preventable through timely prophylaxis.
Dr. Alfred Wejuli of Uganda’s Ministry of Health emphasized the urgent need for intersectoral collaboration under the One Health framework. He underscored that coordinated governance across human, animal, and environmental health sectors is indispensable for sustained disease mitigation and effective rabies control.
By equipping free-roaming dogs with GPS collars, researchers will gain real-time insights into canine movement patterns, enabling the mapping of trajectories, analysis of pack dynamics, home range variability, and interactions with human environments.
Academic and Institutional Capacity Building
Beyond empirical inquiry, the initiative is an incubator for emerging scholars. Makerere University and its partner institutions have embedded postgraduate training into the project’s architecture, equipping students with competencies in cross-disciplinary fieldwork, laboratory diagnostics, and community-based research.
Global Solidarity and Forward Trajectory
Notwithstanding anticipated challenges ranging from logistical constraints in remote terrains to sociocultural sensitivities, the Tracking Trails project offers an unprecedented confluence of innovation, collaboration, and public health utility. As it scales across Africa and Asia, it aspires to generate an empirically grounded, culturally attuned, and ethically informed blueprint for rabies control and canine population management. Dr. Dürr encapsulated the initiative’s ethos: “Rabies transcends borders. Dog mobility defies administrative frontiers. To safeguard both human and animal health, a synergistic, global, and interdisciplinary response is imperative.”
Sekajja Agro Farms Ltd (SAF), a fully integrated poultry enterprise located in Buyuki Nama Sub-County, Mukono District, has initiated strategic discussions with Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) to establish a Graduate Trainee partnership. This collaboration is designed to bridge the persistent gap between academic instruction and practical industry experience by offering final-year students and recent graduates immersive training across the entire poultry value chain.
At a meeting held at CoVAB, the SAF team, led by Dr. Abu Mayanja, the Chief Operations Officer SAF, and the staff of the Department of Livestock and Industry Resources (LIR), a range of operations where the students would benefit were explained, ranging from feed mill production and hatchery management to broiler farming, outgrower coordination, and abattoir services, providing a rich environment for experiential learning. Dr. Abu said the initiative will not only enhance graduate employability but also foster innovation and research, and build technical capacity in Uganda’s poultry sector, while promoting knowledge exchange and entrepreneurial thinking among young professionals. Dr. Mayanja highlighted the significant human resource gap in Uganda’s poultry industry, noting that most workers acquire skills informally on the job. To address this challenge, the partnership will offer final-year students and recent graduates a six-month comprehensive training program, combining mentorship with hands-on experience across SAF’s integrated poultry operations from feed production and hatchery management to broiler farming and processing.
Dr. Sylvia Nalubwama, along with other CoVAB staff, emphasized the strategic importance of the proposed Graduate Trainee partnership with Sekajja Agro Farms Ltd (SAF). The team highlighted that the initiative aligns well with Makerere University’s broader mission to provide education that meets societal needs, especially through practical, skills-based training. The two parties agreed to formalize the partnership following the established process, starting at the departmental level through the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources (SVAR), and concluding with approval of the Memorandum of Understanding by University Management. They also agreed that, due to the urgent workforce gaps in the poultry industry, they would begin immediate engagement and move forward with preliminary activities, including reaching out to interested students and planning the program, even while formalities are still being finalized.
Among some of the terms of the engagement is providing student facilitation, including rent, internet access, and meals, while emphasizing the importance of attitude, adaptability, and willingness to learn. Students will be selected through a merit-based application and interview process. The meeting also spoke of the need for collaboration with BTVET institutions, certification for trainees, and aligning academic programs with industry expectations.
Representatives of the final-year students in attendance expressed keen interest in the Graduate Trainee program and raised pertinent questions regarding remuneration and post-training employment opportunities. In response, representatives from Sekajja Agro Farms Ltd (SAF) acknowledged the importance of financial incentives but emphasized that the true value of the program lies in the unique exposure it offers to the commercial and operational aspects of poultry production. They assured students that the six-month training module is designed to equip them with critical skills, industry insights, and entrepreneurial competencies that are essential for driving growth and innovation within Uganda’s poultry sector.
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