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Veterinary & Biosecurity

AFRISA Formalizes Working Relations with Scripture Union Uganda

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By Jacinta Nakaye

The Africa Institute for Strategic Animal Resource Services and Development (AFRISA) signed a partnership agreement with Scripture Union Uganda (SUU) to join efforts in re-orienting generations into industrial value chain producers.

AFRISA Head of Secretariat, Mr. Felix Okello (3rd Right) and the National Director Scripture Union Uganda, Mr. Dickens Zziwa Ssenyonjo (2nd right) signing the partnership agreement during the signing ceremony, held at the Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health, CoVAB on 14th April 2023.
AFRISA Head of Secretariat, Mr. Felix Okello (3rd Right) and the National Director Scripture Union Uganda, Mr. Dickens Zziwa Ssenyonjo (2nd right) signing the partnership agreement during the signing ceremony, held at the Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health, CoVAB on 14th April 2023.

Mr. Felix Okello, the Head of Secretariat signed on behalf of AFRISA, witnessed by the Chairperson for the Department of Corporate Services and Learner Affairs (CoSLA), Ms. Namara Racheal.  The Scripture Union of Uganda was represented by partnership signatories that included the National Director, Mr. Dickens Zziwa Ssenyonjo, witnessed by the SUU Administrator, Mr. Samuel Turyahikayo.

AFRISA Head of Secretariat, Mr. Felix Okello (Left) and the National Director Scripture Union Uganda, Mr. Dickens Zziwa Ssenyonjo (Right) exchange the signed partnership agreements after the signing ceremony.
AFRISA Head of Secretariat, Mr. Felix Okello (Left) and the National Director Scripture Union Uganda, Mr. Dickens Zziwa Ssenyonjo (Right) exchange the signed partnership agreements after the signing ceremony.

While in a partnership meeting which was held at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB)’s Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health on 14th April 2023, AFRISA’s Principal Innovations Director, Prof. John David Kabasa highlighted  the responsibility of the church as a transformation agent.  

Prof. John David Kabasa making a presentation on the role of the SPEDANT Church in transformation before the signing ceremony.
Prof. John David Kabasa making a presentation on the role of the SPEDANT Church in transformation before the signing ceremony.

“To have a skilled, productive, entrepreneurial, developmental, accredited, and transformative (SPEDANT) nation, the church must be SPEDANT as well,” he said. Adding that, “the church must be skilled, have the ability of the heart, and skilling of the hand.”

One of the founders of AFRISA, Prof. Ruth Muwazi makes her remarks during the partnership meeting.
One of the founders of AFRISA, Prof. Ruth Muwazi makes her remarks during the partnership meeting.

Prof. Kabasa emphasized that in the skilling of the current generation, there must be Academic- Community- Private- Public Partnership. He also pointed out Genesis 1: 28 where man was given dominion by God over all living things upon the earth and was blessed to multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. He said the church has numbers and that being part of a serious SPEDANT team is the way to a productive generation.

The National Director SUU, Mr. Dickens Zziwa Ssenyonjo makes his remarks during the partnership meeting.
The National Director SUU, Mr. Dickens Zziwa Ssenyonjo makes his remarks during the partnership meeting.

The National Director SUU, Mr. Dickens Zziwa Ssenyonjo expressed his appreciation towards what he termed as words of wisdom that were said by Prof. Kabasa. Mr. Ssenyonjo related to the history of transformation, in the 18th century when the British invented the mechanical engine, excelled by using science in all kinds of industrialization, and developed an education system that hasn’t helped the current unskilled generation.

The Administrator for Scripture Union Uganda, Mr. Samuel Turyahikayo makes his remarks during the partnership meeting.
The Administrator for Scripture Union Uganda, Mr. Samuel Turyahikayo makes his remarks during the partnership meeting.

“The church wholeheartedly embraced an education system which has not helped. The current generation is the victim of the mistakes that were done 400 years ago and now we have to reform and undo those mistakes,” he affirmed.

AFRISA Head of Secretariat, Mr. Felix Okello makes his remarks during the partnership ceremony.
AFRISA Head of Secretariat, Mr. Felix Okello makes his remarks during the partnership ceremony.

The National Director further appreciated the idea of joining a SPEDANT team through partnering with AFRISA which is a champion in re-orienting generations to industrial value chain development.

SPEDA model is an innovation by AFRISA for deliberately providing a unique and alternative model of education that combines wholesome skilling, production of tradable products, formation of enterprises and development clusters, and accreditation for community socioeconomic transformation to mitigate the challenges of poverty, peasantry, school dropout, and unemployment.

The AFRISA Head of Quality Assurance and quality control, Mr. Douglas Muwanga Elasto officiates the MoU signing ceremony which took place at the Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health, COVAB, Makerere University.
The AFRISA Head of Quality Assurance and quality control, Mr. Douglas Muwanga Elasto officiates the MoU signing ceremony which took place at the Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health, COVAB, Makerere University.

Scripture Union Uganda is an organization in the church that provides opportunities for children, young people, and adults to explore the Word of God.

Mak Editor

Veterinary & Biosecurity

Makerere Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health partner with VIQAP Consultancy Services and Stakeholders to Strengthen Biorisk Management Capacity among Laboratory Technologists

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Participants posing for a photo after the training. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

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.

Participants in a group discussion during the training. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Participants in a group discussion during the training.

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.

Mr. John Baptist Galiwango, who was the lead facilitator for the three days Biorisk Management Training. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Mr. John Baptist Galiwango, who was the lead facilitator for the three days Biorisk Management Training.

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.

Some of the participant in an engaging group presentation. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Some of the participant in an engaging group presentation.

Participants in a group activity on day two of the training. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Participants in a group activity on day two of the training.

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.

Mr. Galiwango facilitating a Session on day Two. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Mr. Galiwango facilitating a Session on day Two.

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.

Ms. Viola Nakidde, the Managing Director of VIQAP Consultancy Services facilitating a session. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Ms. Viola Nakidde, the Managing Director of VIQAP Consultancy Services facilitating a session.

Ms. Viola Nakidde, the Managing Director of VIQAP Consultancy Services facilitating a session. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Ms. Viola Nakidde, the Managing Director of VIQAP Consultancy Services facilitating a session.

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.

Prof. Clovice Kankya, the Head of Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health, Makerere University addressing the participants. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Clovice Kankya, the Head of Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health, Makerere University addressing the participants.

Prof. Clovice Kankya, the Head of Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health, Makerere University addressing the participants. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Clovice Kankya, the Head of Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health, Makerere University addressing the participants.

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.

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. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
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.

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.

Participants and the facilitators pose for a Group photo with the National Cordinator of the Biosafety and Biosecurity programs of Ministry of Health Mr Joseph Nkodyo (Middle). Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Participants and the facilitators pose for a Group photo with the National Cordinator of the Biosafety and Biosecurity programs of Ministry of Health Mr Joseph Nkodyo (Middle).

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.

Prof. Lawrence Mugisha addressing the participants at the closing Ceremony. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Lawrence Mugisha addressing the participants at the closing Ceremony.
Prof. Lawrence Mugisha- the Chairperson of the National Biosafety Committee awarding Certificate to one of the active participants during the closure of the activity. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Lawrence Mugisha- the Chairperson of the National Biosafety Committee awarding Certificate to one of the active participants during the closure of the activity.

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.

Participants posing with their certificates and the organizing team and Prof. Mugisha after the training. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Participants posing with their certificates and the organizing team and Prof. Mugisha after the training.

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.

The organizers of the training posing for the photo with Prof. Mugisha after closure of the training. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The organizers of the training posing for the photo with Prof. Mugisha after closure of the training.

Some of the COVAB participants and the lead facilitator after the training. Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBIGH) and the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health (BEP) 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, 20th to 22nd October 2025 at COVAB, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Some of the COVAB participants and the lead facilitator after the training.

Harriet Musinguzi

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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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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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