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Veterinary & Biosecurity

CoVAB’s Best Graduands receive Academic Excellence Awards during 73rd Graduation Ceremony

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Star graduating students from The College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) received awards from the Norbrook Veterinary Academic Excellence Award 2023 and the Academic Excellence Awards for Scholars of the MasterCard Foundation Scholars program at Makerere University.

The Best Veterinary Medicine Students receive a dummy check from the Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma.
The Best Veterinary Medicine Students receive a dummy check from the Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma.

The Norbrook Veterinary Academic Excellence Award 2023 that included certificates and a check of Fifteen Million shillings was handed over by the Chancellor Makerere University Prof. Ezra Suruma, to the best Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine students.  These included Ms. Owemigisha Elizabeth who got CGPA of 4.22, Ms. Namata Alice with CGPA of 4.05 and Ms. Nagaba Polly with 3.95.

During same event, an additional three graduands received the Academic Excellence Award for Scholars of the MasterCard Foundation Scholars program at Makerere University.  They included Mirimu Arthur who got a first class degree with CGPA of 4.51 in Bachelor of Biomedical Laboratory Technology, Nabyunga Catherine, first class degree with 4.45 CGPA in Bachelor of Animal Production Management and Technology, as well as Nahwera Eufemia, with CGPA of 4.45 in Bachelor of Industry Livestock and Business.

Star students that received awards from the MasterCard Foundation Scholars program pose for a photo with their parents and Lecturer.
Star students that received awards from the MasterCard Foundation Scholars program pose for a photo with their parents and Lecturer.

The awards were issued during the 73rd Graduation ceremony held Wednesday 15th February during which The College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity presented her graduands. The College presented five Ph.Ds. amongst whom were staff namely Dr. Nabullime Margaret, Dr. Nassaka Joweria, Dr. Ssajjakambwe Paul, Dr. Ssekatawa Kenneth and Dr. Ober Peter.

The Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma while addressing the congregation extended his congratulations to the graduands, parents guardians and other benefactors for the support rendered to the students and the University as a whole.  ‘Thank you very much for supporting Makerere University to pursue its grand vision of becoming a thought leader of knowledge generation for societal transformation’, he said. 

The Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma confers a Doctorate Degree upon Dr. Nabulime Margaret during the 73rd graduation ceremony.
The Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma confers a Doctorate Degree upon Dr. Nabulime Margaret during the 73rd graduation ceremony.

Prof. Suruma expressed gratification for the doctoral research output citing examples of studies conducted at various colleges.  From the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) he picked on a study on improved indigenous feed resources and feeding practices for African catfish, whose study implications he said, were extremely promising for enhancing the production of catfish in Uganda.  

‘I have commented on only a few that I could understand as a lay person.  There are obviously many others which are equally important and perhaps more applicable. I only wished to indicate how relevant the research being done is and the significant contribution it is making to Uganda’s needs’, he said, commenting about the relevance of the research output of the university.

While addressing himself to the graduands, Prof. Suruma commended them for the spirit of hard work, endurance, self-control and discipline that enabled their success.  The degrees we are awarding you today testify to the hardships, the discipline, the commitment, the pain and the tears you have shed over decades of academic struggle.  He said the graduation was a testimony that in the face of adversity, poverty, deprivation, doubt and anger, the students found the determination to hold on and to rise after falling and therefore were now counted among the heroes and survivors of many intellectual battles.

He commended the staff of the university both academic and administrative whose efforts contributed to the successful completion of various degree programs and the guidance of the students on the complexities of academic life. He commissioned the graduating students to go out and change the world.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe while presenting the 73rd graduation statistics said 52% of the graduands were female and 48% male.    There was a total of 13, 221 graduands, out of whom, 102 were graduating with Ph.Ds. 1,378 with Master’s Degrees, 11,598 with Bachelor’s degrees and 143 Diplomas.

Right to Left: DVCAA-Prof. Umar Kakumba, Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Chairperson of Council-Mrs. Lorna Magara, Mace-bearer Ms. Praise Muruye, and Chancellor-Prof. Ezra Suruma as the procession makes its way into the Freedom Square.
Right to Left: DVCAA-Prof. Umar Kakumba, Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Chairperson of Council-Mrs. Lorna Magara, Mace-bearer Ms. Praise Muruye, and Chancellor-Prof. Ezra Suruma as the procession makes its way into the Freedom Square.

Prof. Nawangwe informed the gathering of the newly appointed University Council that included Mrs Lorna Magara who was reappointed as Chairperson, deputised by Hon. Daniel Fred Kidega.  While congratulating the outgoing council for their dedicated service to the University, Prof. Nawangwe noted that the Council was responsible for giving the general direction and oversight to the management team.

In the area of research and outreach, the Vice Chancellor said in its effort to becoming a research led university, the Research and Innovation Fund through a Government of Uganda grant of Uganda Shillings 30 billion annually had transformed the university in a tremendous way, through innovations in all sectors. He said from CoVAB, research on transboundary and other zoonotic diseases as well as vaccine development was of great importance in ensuring the stability and progress of the nation.

While making reference to the Parish Development Model, Nawangwe said Makerere University was desirous of partnering with the Government and was undertaking studies that would inform the successful implementation of the program.

CoVAB Principal, Prof. Frank Nobert Mwiine, (C)  flanked by the Deputy Principal , Dr. Acai Okwee (R)  Dean SVAR, Prof. Robert Tweyongyere and Dean SBLS Dr. Claire Mugasa.
CoVAB Principal, Prof. Frank Nobert Mwiine, (C) flanked by the Deputy Principal , Dr. Acai Okwee (R) Dean SVAR, Prof. Robert Tweyongyere and Dean SBLS Dr. Claire Mugasa.

To the graduands, the Vice Chancellor urged them to utilise their expertise to make Uganda a better place.  ‘As graduates of Business and Management, Computing and Information Sciences, and Veterinary medicine, it is you that must ensure that our businesses are run on sound principles, our country embraces a digital era and that out food security is assured though the health of our livestock. We have empowered you to be critical thinkers, entrepreneurs and good managers of the economy’ he charged them while urging them to take on soft skills to be successful.

CoVAB’s Graduands attending the 3rd session of the 73rd Graduation Ceremony at the Freedom Square, Makerere University on 15th February 2023.
CoVAB’s Graduands attending the 3rd session of the 73rd Graduation Ceremony at the Freedom Square, Makerere University on 15th February 2023.

Harriet Musinguzi

Veterinary & Biosecurity

Tracking Trails Project Launched at Makerere University to Study Free-Roaming Dogs and Disease Spread across Five Nations

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Participants pose for a group photo at the Tracking Tails project launch workshop on 16th October 2025. Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) inaugurates 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, with expertise from Uganda, Chad, India, Indonesia, and Switzerland, exemplifying an ideal One Health model. 16th October 2025, Fairway Hotel, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

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. Terrence Odoch, CoVAB, Co-PI, Makerere University, and Dr. Salome Dürr of the University of Bern, the Principal Investigator, gave a brief about the project. Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) inaugurates 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, with expertise from Uganda, Chad, India, Indonesia, and Switzerland, exemplifying an ideal One Health model. 16th October 2025, Fairway Hotel, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Dr. Terrence Odoch, CoVAB, Co-PI, Makerere University, and Dr. Salome Dürr of the University of Bern, the Principal Investigator, gave a brief about the project.

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.

Prof. James Acai Okwee (C) officiates at the launch of the project. Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) inaugurates 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, with expertise from Uganda, Chad, India, Indonesia, and Switzerland, exemplifying an ideal One Health model. 16th October 2025, Fairway Hotel, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. James Acai Okwee (C) officiates at the launch of the project.

 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

A section of the implementers from the Districts who attended the launch and will play key roles. Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) inaugurates 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, with expertise from Uganda, Chad, India, Indonesia, and Switzerland, exemplifying an ideal One Health model. 16th October 2025, Fairway Hotel, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
A section of the implementers from the Districts who attended the launch and will play key roles.

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.

Some of the researchers that include PhD and Post Doc fellows taking part in the project were at the launch. Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) inaugurates 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, with expertise from Uganda, Chad, India, Indonesia, and Switzerland, exemplifying an ideal One Health model. 16th October 2025, Fairway Hotel, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Some of the researchers that include PhD and Post Doc fellows taking part in the project were at the launch.

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.

Local and international students react to issues raised after they presented their research concepts during the Launch seminar. Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) inaugurates 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, with expertise from Uganda, Chad, India, Indonesia, and Switzerland, exemplifying an ideal One Health model. 16th October 2025, Fairway Hotel, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Local and international students react to issues raised after they presented their research concepts during the Launch seminar.

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

CoVAB’s Dr. Sam Okech moderated the sessions at the launch seminar. Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) inaugurates 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, with expertise from Uganda, Chad, India, Indonesia, and Switzerland, exemplifying an ideal One Health model. 16th October 2025, Fairway Hotel, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
CoVAB’s Dr. Sam Okech moderated the sessions at the launch seminar.

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.”

Participants contribute to the discussion. Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) inaugurates 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, with expertise from Uganda, Chad, India, Indonesia, and Switzerland, exemplifying an ideal One Health model. 16th October 2025, Fairway Hotel, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Participants contribute to the discussion.

Harriet Musinguzi

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Veterinary & Biosecurity

Sekajja Agro Farms Ltd Seeks Graduate Trainee Partnership with CoVAB

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Dr. Abu Mayanja (L), the Chief Operations Officer, and other SAF staff at the meeting

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.

A section of CoVAB staff who were at the meeting deliberated on the potential partnership
A section of CoVAB staff who were at the meeting deliberated on the potential partnership

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.

Harriet Musinguzi

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Veterinary & Biosecurity

 CoVAB Prepares Future Educators with One Health Skills to Address Zoonotic and Climate Risks

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Secondary School teachers undergoing training in One Health from 22nd - 25th September 2025, at CEBIGH in CoVAB

On Monday, 22nd September 2025, the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Health and Biosecurity (CoVAB), Makerere University, launched a four-day intensive training program aimed at equipping Uganda’s next generation of educators with foundational knowledge in One Health. This initiative seeks to foster interdisciplinary understanding among future teachers, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in addressing emerging public health challenges.

The initiative, titled “One Health Training of Uganda’s Next Generation of Teachers,” targets selected third-year education students from Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Uganda Christian University (UCU), and Kabale University, along with newly graduated teachers from across the country. The training is one of the activities of the broader Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (COHESA)project, a regional program spanning 12 countries aimed at strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and promoting integrated approaches to health education and practice.

Prof. Clovice Kankya, Head of the BEP Department at CoVAB and Principal Investigator of the COHESA project in Uganda, underscored the transformative impact of the training, describing it as a strategic investment in the nation’s future health resilience. He noted that by equipping educators with foundational knowledge in One Health, Uganda is fostering a sustainable network of informed leaders capable of influencing both formal education systems and grassroots communities. These teachers will not only embed One Health principles into their curricula but also serve as local ambassadors and champions for improved sanitation, climate adaptation, and disease prevention within their communities.

Prof. Clovice Kankya, Head of the BEP Department at CoVAB and Principal Investigator of the COHESA project in Uganda
Prof. Clovice Kankya, Head of the BEP Department at CoVAB and Principal Investigator of the COHESA project in Uganda

“This is more than a training,” Prof. Kankya remarked. “It’s a movement to embed One Health thinking into the social fabric of Uganda, given that educators are trusted voices in society. When they grasp the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, they become powerful catalysts for behavioral change and community-driven action.”

He emphasized the pivotal role of teachers as agents of change, stressing that One Health, a multidisciplinary approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health, is vital for addressing today’s complex health challenges. Despite its growing global relevance, he observed that the concept of One Health remains largely underrepresented in Uganda’s education and public health sectors. This gap, he argued, makes the involvement of teachers especially critical, as they can serve as catalysts for a multiplier effect, extending the reach and impact of One Health principles across both formal education systems and local communities.

A section of the participants engaged in group work during the training
A section of the participants engaged in group work during the training

Prof. Clovice Kankya further highlighted that the ripple effect of empowering teachers will extend beyond schools, reaching homes, villages, and regional networks. In doing so, the initiative aims to build a generation of citizens who are not only aware of health risks but are also equipped to respond collaboratively and sustainably.

The trainees, drawn from diverse teaching disciplines, received instruction in key areas such as an introduction to One Health principles, zoonotic diseases and outbreak investigation, risk communication strategies, community engagement, and exit protocols, among others. Facilitators from AFROHUN and CoVAB were carefully selected for their expertise in outbreak response, strategic communication, and community-based education. The curriculum is enriched with social science perspectives to strengthen community entry approaches and promote culturally sensitive messaging, ensuring that participants are well-equipped to engage effectively with local populations.

Harriet Musinguzi

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