Veterinary & Biosecurity
CoVAB Celebrates the Life & Accomplishments of the Late Prof. Christine Dranzoa
The College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio Security (CoVAB) joined the rest of the Makerere community and other mourners to celebrate the life of the Late Prof. Christine Dranzoa on Friday 1st July 2022 at St. Augustine Chapel, Makerere University.
The requiem mass organized in honor of the late Prof. Dranzoa attracted a number of mourners that included a representative of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataaha Museveni who was the chief mourner, family, friends, colleagues from various walks of life as well as the Makerere University fraternity where the late was an alumna and an academic member of staff for long.
Prof. Dranzoa was remembered by the clergy as a devout member of the St. Augustine community who actively participated in the varied church programs.
Numerous eulogies described the late Professor Dranzoa as the first in many respects, as the first woman to get a Ph.D. and to become a Professor in the West Nile Region and a renowned advocate for the girl child as well as mentor and advisor to many who were privileged to interact with her.
During her tenure at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio Security, (CoVAB), Prof. Dranzoa was remembered and recognized as the founder of the Wildlife Animal Resources Management (WAAM) from a small unit in the Anatomy department. The unit through her effort and zeal trained and impacted many people who are serving the nation, the region and the world in various capacities. She also served as the Head of department until the year 2005 when she left to serve in other capacities.
Prof. Christine Dranzoa who was remembered as an all-round Academic, Researcher, Ecologist, Conversationalist and Administrator was also recognized in her role as the founder Vice Chancellor of Muni University, one of the public universities and degree-awarding institutions in the country located in Arua.
“In her 56 years of life from 2nd September 1965 to the time she died on 26th June 2022, she left Moyo, West Nile, Uganda, Africa and the whole world better than she found it” noted the chairperson of the organizing committee for the burial of the late Prof. Christine Dranzoa while addressing mourners during the mass. Many of the condolence messages including one from CoVAB’s Principal Prof. Nobert Frank Mwiine and Dr. Nalule Sarah from the WAAM department could not be read due to the overwhelming messages from organizations and individuals she impacted.
She was remembered for the roles she played as Chairperson, Member and Advisor on a number of bodies and agencies including the Forum for Women University Vice Chancellors, Uganda Veterinary Association, Uganda National Academy of Sciences and many more.
“She was altruistic, a perfectionist, a pillar and dependable person and so the family has lost a pivot,” said her children and other family members while giving their eulogy. ‘to you the employers of the Late Prof. Dranzoa, you have also lost a great asset’ they noted. They further commended the management and staff of Makerere University for giving the late Prof Dranzoa the opportunities that opened her doors worldwide as evidenced from the messages from many people.
The Vice Chancellor Makerere University Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe in a condolence Message read for him by Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs (DVCAA) Prof. Umar Kakumba said the Late Prof. Dranzoa was raised and nurtured at Makerere University where she acquired her Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology in 1987, later joining as a lecturer in 1991, earning her Masters the same year and later in in 1997 she got her PhD in Zoology.
“Professor Dranzoa’s service to Makerere can best be described as dedicated and impactful. She spearheaded efforts to turn the Wildlife subsection under the Department of Anatomy in the then Faculty of Veterinary Medicine into a fully-fledged Department of Wildlife and Animal Resources Management. As Head of this department, she initiated programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels, whose graduates continue to make important contributions to wildlife and biodiversity conservation all over the world” it was stated in a statement by Prof. Nawangwe.
The Vice Chancellor said that the Late Prof. Christine Dranzoa served as Deputy Director of the then School of Graduate Studies where she led many policy reforms including the introduction of the Doctoral Committee Supervision Model and Public Defense of Theses and Dissertations. She also popularized the award of joint degree programs by units of the University.
He further noted that with her exceptional qualities, Professor Dranzoa was appointed as Chairperson of the Taskforce charged with setting up Muni University from December 2009 to May 2010 and thereafter as Vice Chancellor where she contributed to the transformation of Muni University.
Prof. Nawangwe extended special condolences to Muni University upon the loss of their Vice-Chancellor, senior colleague and mentor as well as the Uganda Vice Chancellors’ Forum upon the loss of an active and resourceful Member.
Other condolence messages were received from many other agencies that included the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) where the Late Prof. Dranzoa was Chairperson, the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) where she was a Member and President Emeritus. The Nile Women Initiative where she was a co-founder and Chairperson.
Other organizations that joined the mass in celebrating the life of Prof. Christine Dranzoa included the Uganda Vice Chancellors’ Forum, National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), The Education Service Commission, UNESACO Uganda, Higher Education Students Financing Board (HESFB), Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (MoSTI) and many more
In the homily by the main celebrant at the requiem mass, he noted that educated people detest God when still alive and are only forced in church when they die. He reminded the congregation that from dust they came and they would go.
“If we know that this hour will come to all of us, it’s wise that when still alive we prepare for this moment and this is what Christine did. She was 56, she left a trail. Which trail are you leaving? We should cultivate values that will prepare us to see God” he emphasized.
Please click the embedded videos below to view the Requiem Mass at St. Augustine Chapel, Tribute by Muni University Council and Arua City as well as the Burial Ceremony.
Veterinary & Biosecurity
Makerere University and Partners Celebrate INSSPIRE Project Achievements in Evidence-Based Higher Education on Food Systems and Climate Action
By Harriet Musinguzi & Jacinta Nakaye
INSSPIRE, a flagship project housed at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB), has successfully concluded its three-year implementation journey with a final workshop held on Tuesday, 18th November 2025, at the Imperial Royale Hotel. The workshop brought together key stakeholders from leading universities across Europe and Africa to reflect on the project’s achievements, share lessons learned, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
Over the past three years, the INSSPIRE Project has made significant strides in advancing research, innovation, and capacity-building, particularly in the areas of food systems and climate action. Through its initiatives, the project has contributed to strengthening academic programs and aligning them more closely with societal needs and the evolving job market.
Some of the notable achievements of the INSSPIRE Project include the comprehensive review and enrichment of the curriculum, ensuring that learning is not only academically rigorous but also practically relevant to societal needs and the evolving job market. In addition, the introduction of real-life learning labs has provided students with invaluable hands-on experience, enabling them to engage directly with community challenges and apply their knowledge in practical, impactful ways. The project has also pioneered the use of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), linking students with peers from other countries to foster cross-cultural exchange and collaborative problem-solving. This innovative approach has strengthened the connection between academia and society, equipping graduates to become solution-oriented leaders in addressing pressing global issues such as food systems and climate action.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, was represented at the conference by Prof. Julius Kikoma, Director of Graduate Training. Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kikoma commended the remarkable achievements realized through the strong partnership of multiple universities under the INSSPIRE initiative. He underscored the conference theme, “Advancing Evidence-Based and Inclusive Education for Food Systems and Climate Action,” as a powerful reflection of the project’s commitment to tackling global challenges through innovation, collaboration, and shared learning.
Prof. Nawangwe noted that the INSSPIRE Project, centered on innovation for sustainability and societal relevance, has successfully brought together universities from the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, Kenya, Uganda, Benin, and South Africa. Within this collaborative ecosystem, institutions have reimagined higher education to make it more inclusive, experiential, and responsive to pressing challenges such as food systems transformation and climate change.
Nawangwe noted that this transformation comes at a critical time when Africa faces immense challenges in food security and climate change. Uganda remains highly vulnerable, with floods and other climate shocks severely affecting communities and livelihoods. He emphasized that food systems are under pressure from rapid population growth, unsustainable practices, and environmental degradation, while climate change is already impacting nutrition and resilience. Universities like Makerere must rise to this challenge, he said, and that through initiatives like the INSSPIRE Project, Makerere University joined regional and international partners to generate evidence, influence policy, and drive innovation though solutions generated by students, researchers, and communities.
The Vice Chancellor expressed gratitude to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the project’s lead institution, for fostering collaboration that has strengthened long-term partnerships between Makerere and universities in Europe and Africa. He praised this cooperation as a model of global academic partnership, where learning flows both ways and innovation thrives in diversity. He also thanked Erasmus+, the European Union, RUFORUM, FAO, national agencies, and research institutions for their support. Special recognition was given to CoVAB for providing an enabling environment, and to the dedicated Makerere INSSPIRE team led by Dr. Charles Drago Kato, whose leadership has been central to the project’s success.
Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine, Principal CoVAB expressed the commitment of the college leadership in moving the INSSPIRE innovations forward, as demonstrated in the innovations in the department of Livestock resources and the continuous development of staff to broaden the teaching of these courses. He said the college would remain part of the network and appreciated INSSPIRE for the capacity-building initiatives for the staff of the college especially in the new pedagogical methodologies like the real-life lab.
Dr. Denyse Snelder from VU Amsterdam gave a broad overview of the project activities they engaged in, including the capacity development on evidence-based and inclusive education, strengthening the university to community collaboration, and inter-university collaborations. She highlighted the key achievements realized, which include sixty lecturers actively engaged, 850 students reached through enriched courses, Five Hundred community stakeholders engaged, establishment of community practice with Eighteen Universities in Africa and Europe under the umbrella, South to South and triangular cooperation.
The INSSPIRE Project aimed to prepare students in higher education for labor market success by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to drive food systems transformation and adapt to climate change, thereby contributing to sustainable growth.
Veterinary & Biosecurity
Urban Farming & Climate-Smart Practices: Makerere Researchers Explore Innovations at Kyakuwa Farm
A team of scientists under the collaborative research project “Building Capacity for Innovation and Advancement of Climate Smart Agriculture in East and Southern Africa (CICSA-E&SA)” recently visited Kyakuwa Farm, a model site for urban farming innovations. The visit provided valuable insights into practical climate-smart farming technologies that can strengthen resilience and reduce emissions in urban and peri-urban livestock systems.
The Climate-Smart Agriculture project is led by Makerere University in partnership with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Norway), Maseno University (Kenya), LUANAR, and DARS (Malawi), with funding from the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education (Diku). One of its objectives is to develop a Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Platform to bring together key stakeholders to share experiences, promote proven CSA technologies, and build farmer resilience while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
The visit was led by Principal Investigator Dr. Nampanzira Dorothy Kalule from the Department of Livestock and Industrial Resources at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity (CoVAB), Makerere University. She was joined by other scientists, including Prof. Vincent Muwanika, whose combined expertise enriched the engagement at Kyakuwa Farm. Together, the delegation emphasized Makerere University’s dedication to promoting urban farming and climate-smart agriculture through collaborative learning and knowledge exchange.
While at the farm, the scientists witnessed a number of climate-smart innovations that reinforce the sustainability of the Kyakuwa dairy system. These included silage made from excess sweet potato vines, hay produced from Paspalum grass during compound slashing, and hydroponic fodder cultivated as a nutrient-rich supplement. To address the persistent challenge of flies, the farm applies diatomaceous earth, an organic insecticide, both in the environment and mixed with feed. This integrated approach, they learned, enhanced animal nutrition, improved herd health, and maintained environmental hygiene.
Prof. Jolly M. L. Kabirizi, Executive Director of Kyakuwa Farm and animal research scientist at Valley University of Science and Technology, welcomed the Makerere University team. She showcased her sustainable urban farming model, highlighting dairy production supported by innovative feed, waste management, and climate-smart practices that reduce costs, empower youth, and promote community engagement. The farm places dairy production at its core, integrating innovative feed and waste-management practices that embody climate-smart agriculture. These strategies enhance productivity, optimize resource utilization, and minimize environmental impact, making the farm a replicable model for sustainable urban farming.
According to the scientists, Prof. Kabirizi’s standout innovation is her concept of “turning waste into wealth.” Instead of relying mainly on elephant grass like many dairy farmers, she introduced the use of assorted organic market waste as a sustainable feed source. By training vendors in waste recovery, she incorporates bean pods, sweet potato vines, and pineapple residues into her feeding program. These unconventional resources now form a major part of her dairy system, cutting feed costs, improving sustainability, and reducing organic waste in urban markets.
Prof. Kabirizi complements her waste-to-feed innovations with sustainable feeding technologies that reinforce Kyakuwa Farm’s resilience. The farmer produces silage from surplus sweet potato vines, hay from Paspalum grass during compound slashing, and hydroponic fodder as a nutrient-rich supplement. To tackle the challenge of flies, Kabirizi said she applies diatomaceous earth organically in both the environment and feed. This integrated system boosts animal nutrition, strengthens herd health, and maintains environmental hygiene, showcasing climate-smart agriculture in action.
Kyakuwa Farm highlights a climate-smart use of manure by transforming it into a valuable energy resource. Through solar drying, manure is converted into charcoal briquettes that offer households a cleaner, affordable alternative to firewood. This innovation reduces reliance on traditional fuels, eases pressure on forests, and integrates renewable energy into livestock management, showcasing how circular resource use strengthens sustainability and climate resilience in urban farming. In her closing remarks, after successful deliberations with the scientists, Prof. Kabirizi urged the visiting scientists to champion early retirement planning among farmers, drawing on her own rewarding retirement shaped by community training and mentorship. She has empowered households within and beyond Wakiso District through skills in urban dairy management, climate-smart feeding, and value addition.
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