Veterinary & Biosecurity
Making vaccines available & accessible to women & other marginalized livestock farmers
Women in livestock farming in Uganda have been empowered and trained on vaccines access and proper administration for both animals and poultry. This was during a project dubbed the Livestock Vaccine Innovation Fund (LVIF) undertaken to address the barriers faced by women in livestock vaccine systems in Uganda and generating new evidence on how women can better benefit and participate in the vaccination systems.
The Livestock Vaccine Innovation Fund (LVIF) was funded by Canada International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to support the development of affordable livestock vaccines, targeting diseases that affect women and men who are livestock keepers. The project has been implemented through a set of research action based accomplishments including;
The SHeVax+ research (hearing Their Voices, Action Research to Support Women’s Agency and Empowerment in Livestock Vaccine Distribution, delivery and Use is a partnership between the Cumming School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and the Africa One Health University Network (AFROHUN) together with their implementing partners including Makerere University, University of Nairobi and University of Rwanda. Prof. William Bazeyo is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AFROHUN. The project assessed the state of women’s empowerment and gender parity on the vaccine value chain, identified key entry points among women smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs to contribute to and benefit from livestock vaccines thereby improving livestock production and livelihoods. The project was implemented in Sembabule district in Uganda, Machakos County in Kenya, and Nayagatare district in Rwanda.
Advancing Women’s Participation in Livestock Vaccine Value Chain Nepal, Senegal and Uganda research. Implemented by the University of Florida (UF) in collaboration with Makerere University, the project aimed at increasing women’s use of pest des petits ruminants (PPR) vaccines for their small ruminants in Nepal, Senegal, and Uganda as well as Newcastle Disease vaccines for their poultry in Senegal. Recognizing the fact that there are multiple factors that prevent women from vaccinating their animals, most often related to gender and intersectional issues such as class, ethnicity, disability and geographic location, the project introduced the Gender Intersectional Transformative Approach (GITA) with the aim of working with women livestock owners, all levels of animal health workers and trainers with a transformative mind of opening up spaces to allow full participation in the livestock vaccination value chain. In Uganda, the project was implemented in Karamoja Sub region targeting selected sub counties in four districts of Abim, Amudat, Kotido and Moroto.
According to Dr. Evelyn Baraké, the Project Officer- IDRC, the Livestock Innovation Fund was initiated to accelerate the development of new vaccines against neglected livestock diseases, increase the efficacy, marketability and use of existing livestock vaccines and fostering effective partnerships between vaccine researchers and public and private sector actors. The project also focused on animal diseases posing the greatest risk to poor livestock keepers in Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia.
“Our program on Women empowerment and Livestock Vaccines has enhanced the mapping exercise on livestock vaccine value chains. Through this program, we have been able to identify barriers preventing women from accessing vaccines and sought out the effective interventions to increase the demand for vaccines and their use,” she noted.
Dr. Evelyn Baraké also mentioned that IDRC has utilized the programme approach to define and measure changes in gender norms and empowerment hence fostering gender transformative impact.
Majority of rural households in low developing countries are engaged in livestock rearing. This activity is undertaken by both women and men in most cases who are predominantly agro-pastoral smallholders within mixed farming systems. According to Dr. Nargiza Ludgate- the Co-Principal Investigator of the project; Advancing Women’s participation in livestock vaccine value chain, gender and attitudes of animal health service providers can affect their veterinary practice and quality of care. Therefore, developing an understanding of how gender and perceptions can influence veterinary practice is essential to improve the reach and quality of service delivery.
In Uganda, women are often left out of agricultural extension services and technical support. This is because household power imbalances play a key role in animal health services. In the livestock vaccine value chain, women and other marginalized groups such as minority ethnic groups, the elderly and persons living with dis-abilities have less access than men to key inputs such vaccines as well as limited ability to influence decision-making on vaccination and animal health within the households. In addition, women tend to miss out on veterinary services due to the deep- rooted social- cultural biases at household and community levels.
“The unvaccinated animals of women and other marginalized groups are at a higher risk of infection and can spread diseases easily to other livestock. This, consequently undermines community level and global diseases control interventions, such as eradication of peste des petis ruminants by 2030,” noted Agnes Yawe, Head of Grants and Resource Mobilization/ Partnerships, AFROHUN.
Yawe also highlighted the bigger gender gap that has for long existed in the current veterinary curriculum in Uganda when she said, “this curriculum is set by the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) and must meet the World Health Organization (WHO) for Animal Health standards for veterinarians or para- veterinarians. However, the primary focus of the current curriculum is directed to scientific and technical knowledge or the “hard skills” with little or no space for soft “soft skills” such as gender responsive communication, empathic listening, effective communication and community engagement.”
She further noted the need to integrate gender concepts in refresher courses and workshops for veterinarians and other animal health service providers to enrich their understanding on how best to reach out to women and other marginalized groups.
Prof. Anthony Mugisha, SheVax Country Lead and Co-Principal Investigator in Uganda highlighted the need to increase women’s access to communication tools as a way of enhancing their access to information.
“Women’s limited access to mobile phones and community networks that pass on information also means that they often miss out on the messages related to animal health campaigns. Additionally, those livestock keepers (women and men) who are poor, elderly or living with disabilities or belong to an ethnic group such as the Tepeth who live far away from the community centres on the slopes of Mount Moroto are always left out by veterinary extension agents,” he said.
On Monday 5th March 2023, a multi-stakeholders meeting was convened at Golden Tulip in Kampala, Uganda to; –
- Engage key stakeholders in the livestock vaccine value chain
- Showcase promising approaches for gender responsive and inclusive livestock vaccine value chain
- Disseminate research findings and policy recommendations with key stakeholders
The meeting was officially graced by Hon. Janet Akech Okori-moe, Woman Member of Parliament of Abim district and the Chairperson Agriculture committee of Parliament of Uganda and attended by livestock farmers, policy Makers, research and scientists and media.
Speaking at the meeting, Hon. Janet Akech Okori-Moe said that small ruminants such as goats, sheep and poultry form a bigger part of livelihood enterprise and provide key benefits to most smallholder farmers especially women in the developing countries including Uganda. She also noted that whereas this is so, the animal value chain right from production up to the end point of selling the product quite often leaves out women and other vulnerable groups.
“It is estimated globally that approximately 262 million people at the worst poor keep livestock for food security and income generation and women represent two thirds of this total population. Women being smallholder farmers, face serious challenges and therefore the need to support them, build their confidence in a patriarchal society and allow their participation in matters that affect them through equipping them with information and mindset change training sessions,” she noted.
“Available record also shows that women have poor access to vaccines for the few livestock they manage. They are believed to be good animal care takers compared to their male counter parts hence strategies are needed to ensure that women’s ability to participate and benefit from the vaccine value chains is realized,” she added.
With reference to the existing village health teams, Hon. Janet Akech Okori-Moe called for the consideration for formation of the village animal health teams to attend to challenges affecting livestock farmers in Uganda. She as well urged policymakers to enhance their actions and discussions that support the need to address animal health challenges in Uganda.
Highlighting government support towards livestock farming in Uganda, Hon. Akech Okori-Moe informed participants of the recently launched government Scientific Vaccine Trials that are currently being tested in five centres in Uganda including two prison farms. She acknowledged the tremendous work done by experts from Makerere University, School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, the University of Florida (UF), and the Africa One Health University Network (AFROHUN) through research to empower more women in livestock farming.
In the same spirit, the Honourable Member of Parliament thanked Canada International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) for supporting programmmes tailored at addressing dilemmas surrounding animal health in Uganda.
“Thank you for building confidence in women. With your support, their voices are being heard, their actions are being felt, their participation is being noticed in animal health promotion and I pray that this research is replicated with resources and time allowing to other equally deserving areas,” she said.
The project success stories
According to Dr. Hellen Amuguni, the Principal Investigator of Shevax project, Dr. Hellen Amuguni, the project was able to;-
- Train 24 Animal Health Service Providers and well quipped to serve 140,000 households.
- Over 1500 people have received animal health training.
- 1,200 Vaxxer calendars have been disseminated.
She acknowledged the projects efforts to equip farmers with solar powered fridges, vaccine kits and trainings on how and when to access and administer the vaccines to animals and poultry.
Three policy briefs on making vaccines available and accessible to women and marginalized livestock farmers; Gender-responsive and inclusive veterinary extension for health animals, reduced poverty and empowered women; and Gender and social inclusion training for veterinary animal health services providers were developed and shared to key stakeholders.
The project also facilitated the development of IEC materials in form of posters and comic books written and translated in the local languages of the communities that were engaged during the project implementation process.
Women were also trained in basic skills in photography as a way of expressing themselves, tell their stories and enhancing their voices on livestock farming. In seeking to transform the veterinary extension services to become more gender aware, responsive and inclusive, the team recommended the following:
- Putting gender-inclusive livestock policies into practice through actual procedures or processes to improve vaccination programs
- Fostering collaborations between animal health technical providers and community development service providers to reach stakeholders who are left behind
- Gender responsiveness of service provision should be an integral part of animal health technical trainings
- Including women along the animal and poultry Vaccine Value Chain (VVC) improves the efficacy and efficiency of vaccination programs by reaching underserved smallholders
- Government and private Animal Health Service Providers (AHSPs) need to recognize that socio-cultural issues at household and community level prevent women and other marginalized small holders from using and engaging as providers of livestock vaccine services
- Public- private collaboration within the livestock vaccine value chain needs committed leadership from government agencies and relevant departments
- Investing in integrating gender knowledge and communication skills into training and curriculum for veterinarians and animal service providers
- Encouraging women and marginalized groups to become animal health service providers
- Ensuring that Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) trainings follow a competence- based learning framework, enriched with gender and soft skills modules and offered as refresher courses
- Strengthening women, the poor, elderly and persons living with disabilities livestock keepers’ access to critical animal health welfare services, such as veterinary care, drugs and information and technology
- Investing in gender transformative approaches in veterinary extension training
- Sensitizing community leaders, CAHWs and other key community stakeholders
Veterinary & Biosecurity
NRM’s Rose Namayanja Seeks Partnership with CoVAB to Boost Farmer Productivity through Research and Innovation
The Deputy Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Ms. Rose Namayanja, has called for stronger collaboration between researchers and farming communities to ensure farmers access the right information, technologies, and products needed to improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods.
Namayanja made the remarks during a visit to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) at Makerere University on October 12, 2026, where she interacted with researchers and innovators working on various agricultural solutions. A key focus of the engagement was AZOLLA, an innovative low-cost protein source being developed as an alternative livestock feed ingredient to help reduce feed costs and improve farmer productivity. She explained that her visit to CoVAB was intended to obtain first-hand, research-based information that could be shared with other stakeholders and used to provide informed guidance to farmers.
While reflecting on the performance of beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM), Namayanja noted that government efforts to train and support farmers were yielding positive results in many areas, citing Mubende Municipality as an example. However, she expressed concern about the escalating cost of animal feeds, which continues to affect farmers across the country. She specifically cited the high price of ‘Akalungo’, a protein premix commonly used in livestock feeds, as one of the challenges undermining profitability in the agricultural sector.
Namayanja, who indicated that she too was involved in poultry farming with over One hundred thousand birds, explained that she had learned about Azolla, an alternative and affordable source of protein for animal feeds, from several sources, including the Uganda Prisons Service’s two-acredemonstration facility at the Jinja Show Ground, where a number of agricultural innovations are showcased. Interested in obtaining first-hand knowledge about the innovation, she visited CoVAB to engage with the researchers behind Azolla and better understand its potential to address the feed cost challenge facing farmers.
She noted that her intention was to obtain well-researched and evidence-based information that would enable her to provide accurate guidance and informed advice to farmers seeking practical solutions to improve productivity while reducing production costs.
Explanation of Improvements
“Many people, including members of the elite class, are increasingly investing in agriculture and are seeking support and information from credible institutions,” she said.
Namayanja commended the young scientists and innovators at the college for putting their academic knowledge into practice through solutions that address animal nutrition challenges and help farmers reduce the cost of livestock feeds.
She pledged to work closely with CoVAB to ensure that farmers’ challenges are addressed through scientifically guided interventions and innovations.
CoVAB Showcases Research and Academic Programs
The Principal of CoVAB, Prof. Clovice Kankya, highlighted the wide range of research and academic activities being undertaken at the college. He explained the college’s structure, which comprises the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources (SVAR) and the School of Biosecurity, Biotechnologyand Laboratory Sciences ((SBLS), outlining the various academic programs and research initiatives offered under the two schools.
Scientists Promote Alternative Feed Sources
Speaking during the engagement, Assoc. Prof. Claire Mack Mugasa, the Dean of SBLS emphasized the college’s efforts to develop alternative animal feed sources using insects such as maggots and black soldier flies. She explained that these innovations help transform waste into useful products while addressing the growing demand for affordable protein sources in animal feeds. As a representative from the unit responsible for quality management, she noted that the college places great emphasis on ensuring that animal feeds meet national standards and regulatory requirements.
“Food is often said to be a drug, and therefore the feeds we produce must be of high quality,” she said, noting the need to comply with standards set by the National Drug Authority and other regulators.
Prof. Mugasa observed that conventional protein sources such as fish meal and soybean remain expensive, creating competition between livestock and humans for food resources. She stressed the need to expand research, establish demonstration gardens, and increase farmer awareness and confidence in innovations such as Azolla. She also highlighted the need for further research into preservation technologies, including grinding and fermentation methods, to improve the storage and utilization of Azolla products.
Linking Innovations to Communities
Edward Ssebuufu, founder of Anaweza Innovation Academy, said the academy identifies gaps within communities and develops solutions to address them. He revealed that the organization in conjunction with researchers from CoVAB and CAES is establishing demonstration gardens to promote Azolla as an affordable protein source for animal feed among many other innovations. Ssebuufu proposed stronger collaboration between the academy and the Parish Development Model so that proven technologies can be disseminated more effectively to communities.
“We have the technologies here at CoVAB. The question is how we get them to the communities?” he said.
He noted that high feed costs and concerns about feed quality remain major challenges for farmers. According to him, practical community training centers, proper enterprise selection, and farmer group formation are essential strategies for improving agricultural productivity and adoption of innovations.
Makerere UniPod Promotes Commercialization
The Assistant Manager of Makerere UniPod, Dr. Margaret Nagwovuma, said the innovation hub welcomes staff, students, and members of the public with innovative ideas. She acknowledged that while numerous innovations are being developed at the university, many people are not fully utilizing the services available through the center.
“Our role is to link academia to industry and serve all categories of innovators,” she said.
Dr. Nagwovuma further observed that there is a significant gap in the commercialization of research outputs and innovations, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts among researchers, innovators, government agencies, and industry players to ensure that technologies developed at the university reach communities and contribute to national development.
Veterinary & Biosecurity
Prof. Clovice Kankya Assumes Leadership at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB)
Prof. Clovice Kankya officially assumed leadership of Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) on Thursday, September 17, 2026, taking over from outgoing principal Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine in a handover ceremony presided over by Chief Human Resources Officer Deus Mujuni.
Upon assuming office, Prof. Clovice Kankya has laid out a six-pillar vision to transform the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB). The vision focuses on shifting from lecture-based to competence-driven teaching, advancing impactful research that translates into innovation and national development.
Further, he said his leadership will support building valuable partnerships that strengthen staff capacity and global contribution. He emphasized treating people as the greatest resource by addressing staff attrition and fostering mentorship, while reinforcing governance and accountability to ensure institutional trust. Finally, he pledged to create a listening college with open communication channels between staff and students, positioning CoVAB as a hub of excellence, innovation, and impact.
Prof. Clovice Kankya, in his maiden address as Principal CoVAB, began with heartfelt appreciation: “I stand before you with a profound sense of gratitude, humility, and responsibility.” He pledged to confront challenges honestly, build on existing achievements, and transform ideas into measurable outputs. Emphasizing his leadership philosophy, he declared that it is anchored on “continuity where continuity serves, change where change is necessary, and innovation where innovation can create greater impact.”
A Call to Collective Action
Prof. Kankya urged students to challenge the college intellectually and prepare to become solution creators rather than job seekers. He called on staff for active participation and constructive criticism, and encouraged researchers and partners to form multidisciplinary teams tackling Uganda’s pressing problems.
Further, he pledged to lead with consultation, accountability, and consensus-building. “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter. It’s not a chapter that I write alone; it’s a chapter that we shall write together,” he said. “Together, let us move CoVAB from retention to practice, from knowledge to innovation, and from innovation to impact.”
Prof. Kankya envisions CoVAB as a hub of academic excellence, innovation, and impact — with improved infrastructure, digital transformation, enhanced staff development, and financial sustainability. His leadership is expected to strengthen academic programs, enhance resource mobilization, and steer the college toward greater influence in veterinary medicine and animal resources, both in Uganda and beyond.
Legacy of Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine at CoVAB
Outgoing Principal Prof. Mwiine highlighted milestones during his tenure, including the construction of a 980-million-shilling hostel at Buyana Stock Farm, roofing of the CoVAB building, acquisition of a bus for student transport, provision of 500 lecture hall seats, and painting of the college building without drawing on university funds. Yet, he also pointed to persistent challenges such as staffing gaps, unimplemented departmental restructuring, and high staff attrition. He urged his successor to remain resilient, stressing that resource mobilization often comes with resistance and criticism.
The Chief Human Resources Officer for Makerere University, Mr. Deus Mujuni commended Prof. Mwiine for leaving an indelible mark on the college and urged Prof. Kankya to build on that legacy. He emphasized continuity, urging the new principal to consult past leaders and rely on institutional memory, while reminding staff to extend the same trust and dedication to the incoming leadership.
The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Rt. Hon. Eng. Asiimwe Jonard, visited the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) during his maiden official visit to Makerere University, commending the tremendous research work ongoing at CoVAB and across the University.
In his remarks, the Minister noted that his visit to the University highlighted the pivotal role of research, technology, and innovation in shaping Uganda’s economic transformation and showcased Makerere’s capacity to translate groundbreaking scientific discoveries into practical solutions that address both national and global challenges.
The visit, held on September 16th, 2026, was anchored under the theme “Research Infrastructure, Emerging Technologies and Enterprise Creation.” It offered the Minister an opportunity to tour CoVAB’s state-of-the-art facilities at the Centre for Global Biosecurity and Biomolecular Technology (CeBioTech) and engage directly with faculty, researchers, and students. He commended the college for its tremendous contributions to animal health, food security, and biosecurity, emphasizing that these areas are vital to building a resilient and sustainable economy for Uganda.
While addressing college staff, researchers, and other stakeholders, the Minister emphasized that universities must serve as engines of innovation, moving beyond scholarly work to commercialization. He commended CoVAB’s vaccine development for both humans and animals, describing it as a cornerstone of Uganda’s biosecurity agenda. He further highlighted the importance of integrating social sciences into innovation, noting that project management and product development strategies are essential to fast-track research outputs into viable enterprises.
The Minister toured several flagship facilities at CoVAB, including the Central Laboratory Animal Research Facility, which provides laboratory animal services and pre-clinical trial support; RePROVaD, which designs recombinant proteins and subunit vaccines for emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and Mpox; the Anti-Tick Vaccine project, which addresses the persistent challenge of ticks and tick-borne diseases affecting livestock productivity; and BIOMARKER, which develops antibody-based diagnostics to strengthen disease detection. These initiatives, he noted, demonstrate Makerere University’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to both national and global health challenges.
Looking ahead, the Minister outlined priority actions where CoVAB is expected to play a leading role. These include advancing veterinary innovations toward certification and commercialization, leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen Uganda’s pathogen economy, positioning veterinary science as a driver of agro‑industrialization, developing sustainable models for shared diagnostic and biosecurity laboratories, and providing commercialization support for innovators in areas such as intellectual property, regulation, standards, and market access. By focusing on these areas, he emphasized, CoVAB will not only enhance Uganda’s scientific capacity but also accelerate the country’s journey toward economic resilience and prosperity.
Asiimwe pledged continued support for Makerere University and encouraged the development of structured University–Industry exchange models to ensure veterinary research translates into enterprise creation. He also emphasized the importance of self-sustainability for research centers, noting that revenue generation is key to long-term impact.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, thanked the Minister for recognizing CoVAB’s strategic role and reaffirmed Makerere’s commitment to advancing veterinary science and innovation for Uganda’s prosperity.
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