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COHESA in Uganda; Stakeholders hold a discourse to lay strategies for project implementation

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Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (COHESA) national strategic workshop was convened at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, 25th -26th April 2023.

It was aimed at making a contribution towards the One health approach in Uganda through promoting COHESA activities to further strengthen One Health approach in Uganda from low to high-level stakeholders; review and validate the findings from the baseline study and to solicit constructive recommendations on the way forward from the baseline study and how COHESA can incorporate those in its country plans. 

The College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio Security (CoVAB), in collaboration with International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech (ISAAA) embarked on implementing the project in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Participants engage in a group discussion.
Participants engage in a group discussion.

With funding totaling to a tune of 9 billion Euros from the European Union, COHESA is implemented in eleven African countries that include Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya in East Africa.  In the Southern part of Africa, the implementation is in Mozambique, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Malawi.

It brings together a number of sectors including Wildlife, Environment, Fisheries and many more with the intention of enabling the people to enjoy quality life through addressing the One Health challenges that characterize the respective countries.

Prof. Clovice Kankya, PI COHESA, Uganda presenting the findings of the Baseline study.
Prof. Clovice Kankya, PI COHESA, Uganda presenting the findings of the Baseline study.

According to the Team leader in Uganda, Prof. Clovice Kankya from the Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Vet Public Health, COHESA will help address One Health and anti-microbial resistance issues affecting the region and that these were the main subjects of the discussion in the two-day event that came in following the launch of COHESA on 7th December, 2022.

The stakeholders were drawn from line Ministries and agencies that included the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Academia, from Uganda Christian University and Makerere University, civil society and Non-Government Organizations involved in One Health.

Prof. Kankya noted that the discourse was aimed at identifying strategies and guidance in order to find a better way of addressing issues of One Health.

‘It is imperative to lay strategies to address challenges even when there is no problem at hand.  The National strategic workshop needs to plan how to address issues as and when they arise citing the examples of Covid 19 and Ebola that paused a burden on human and financial resources when they struck.  It is necessary that there is a plan before hand and to ascertain availability of resources like finances and human capital, he observed.

He noted that the world is facing unprecedented, inter-connected threats to the health of people, animals, and the environment and that addressing these threats requires cross-sectoral, systems-wide approaches.

“The One Health concept recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and the environment. COVID-19 and its origins as a zoonotic pathogen is a particularly pertinent example. One Health concerns many of the other major threats of our time, such as climate change and disease emergence, antimicrobial resistance, ecosystem destruction with loss of biodiversity and the fragility of food and feed systems.

Prof. Kankya said efforts towards developing cadres in line with One Health were in advanced stages with the proposed Ph.D. program in Global Health and Biosecurity at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University.

He however highlighted some of the challenges at hand citing the issue of getting entities working together given that One Health is multi sectoral and requires concerted effort.  He said issues like data generated needed to be shared although many agencies do not share such information. ‘We have to plan together and share the information he emphasized.’ While explaining the reason for the stakeholder engagement.

Theodore Knight Jones from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
Theodore Knight Jones from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

Theodore Knight Jones from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the body coordinating the implementation of the project said COHESA will work with Makerere and other Universities in the implementing countries in addressing such complex challenges affecting the health and wellbeing of people and animals. He said COHESA was to come up with a collaborative approach to deal with challenges like the environmental impacts arising from pollution, health and agriculture.

He said because the problems spill over different sectors, there was need for high level collaboration citing the example of diseases that spread beyond borders and that at national Level, the project would support different partners in dealing with the issues affecting them.  He said emerging diseases were the major challenge affecting Uganda, in addition to food toxins, pesticides and general contamination of food and hence the human health system.

Participants engaged in one of the plenary sessions.
Participants engaged in one of the plenary sessions.

COHESA aims to generate an inclusive Research & Innovation ecosystem, facilitating rapid uptake, adaption and adoption of solutions to issues that can be dealt with using a One Health approach, with the One Health concept embedded across society in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), working for healthy humans, animals and environments.

It is expected that by the end of the project, a number of outputs will be realized.  Government entities with One Health mandates and stakeholders across society will be capacitated in cross-sectoral collaboration.  They will also be capacitated in the development of evidence-based One Health   strategies and policies.  National secondary, tertiary, and vocational education institutes strengthened in building One Health capacity for the next generation workforce.

Research institutes will be capacitated in training next generation One Health researchers, capacitated in identification, development, adaption, and delivery of One Health solutions including technologies, soft skills and strategic approaches for addressing current challenges.

Service providers (public, private) to be capacitated in identification, adoption and delivery of OH solutions.  One Health   related Public-Private Partnerships strengthened in delivery of OH solutions and consultation on One Health issues.

Another group of participants engaged in a group discussion.
Another group of participants engaged in a group discussion.

There will also be some contribution to emerging understanding on One Health, its appropriate use and added value, Knowledge and Information on research and policies in East and Southern Africa promoted through project platforms.

Harriet Musinguzi

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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