Veterinary & Biosecurity
Strengthening CoVAB’s Partnership with the National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI)
The College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) and the National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLRRI) agreed on the urgent need to formalize their relationship in the area of skilling, training, joint research activities, supervision, and joint grant writing. The two institutions are looking for ways to mutually benefit from each other’s strengths and expertise for improved productivity in their mandates leading to significant advancements in livestock research and education.
The staff of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB), led by Principal Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine, visited the National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLRRI) in Nakyesasa on Tuesday, December 17th, 2024. They were welcomed by the Director of Research, Prof. Samuel Majalija, who, along with his staff, conducted a guided tour of the institute’s facilities and enterprises to gain learning experiences. The purpose of the visit was to forge a formal partnership between the two institutions in the fields of teaching, research, and outreach.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Samuel Majalija, formerly a Deputy Principal of CoVAB, noted that NARO values collaboration and synergy and explained that all the ongoing work at NaLRRI/NARO was rooted in both local and international partnerships, including those with Makerere University. He said the visit by the college leadership and staff was no mean achievement for NaLRRI/NARO, but a gesture of continued relationships between the two institutions.
During a meeting held after a tour of various enterprises ongoing at NaLRRI, Prof. Samuel Majalija emphasized the pivotal role of scientists in enhancing the country’s productivity. Lack of written documentation hampers knowledge transfer he observed and stressed the necessity of creating simple Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for every enterprise to instigate change nationwide. He expressed concern that despite being Uganda’s only livestock research institute, and the time he has been in the office of Director of Research, he had not seen any CoVAB students interning at NaLRRI. He challenged the college leadership to ensure that CoVAB students transition from theory to practical teaching and learning. Students need to be encouraged to gain hands-on experience, which is crucial for driving meaningful changes. Additionally, Prof. Majalija mentioned that NaLRRI/NARO was open to collaboration, with highly trained staff ready to engage with CoVAB students through Guest Lectures and skill-building initiatives. He emphasized the importance of Makerere University opening its doors to allow the research institute to tap into its extensive expertise.
Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine, the Principal of CoVAB, acknowledged the warm welcome extended to CoVAB by the Director and staff of NaLRRI/NARO. He noted that the Makerere Strategic Plan 2020-2030, provides for a shift towards becoming research-led with increased emphasis on postgraduate training. Prof. Mwiine mentioned that Makerere benefits from a 30 billion research grant through MakRIF and highlighted ongoing collaborations with NARO, citing activities on the CoVAB land in Nakyesasa, which was originally part of NARO land. He said some NARO and Makerere University staff have in the past published jointly specifically in the field of livestock research and that both institutions were receiving funding through the Ministry of Science and Technology for vaccine development and emphasized the need for greater synergy and a convergence zone. Prof. Mwiine further stressed the need for continued collaboration with staff at NARO especially in student supervision and research publication.
The CoVAB Deputy Principal Assoc. Prof. James Acai Okwee, presented an overview of the ongoing research activities, challenges, and proposals for enhanced collaboration with NaLRRI/NARO. He outlined the existing research capacity in areas such as zoonotic pathogen screening for both human and animal infections, and the RTC’s work in researching ticks and tick-borne diseases. He also highlighted ongoing work at the Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health, which he said was leading the vaccine development efforts at CoVAB. Dr. Okwee noted that CoVAB acquired land in Nakyesasa in collaboration with NARO, and it was one of the areas where the college was undertaking activities like the livestock demonstration farms supported by the Korean government.
The Deputy Principal highlighted several challenges, faced by the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity including unfunded student research, which leads to delayed completion, dropout, and lack of depth. He also pointed out the inadequate infrastructure that requires refurbishing and the unsustainable project-based approach to research, as opposed to a program-based approach. He criticized the ivory tower model, where training is disconnected from research and practice. Additionally, he noted that the college has a large concentration of 140 underutilized scientists.
The CoVAB team was given a tour of the labs, where they observed the state-of-the-art equipment and demonstrations in the Nutrition Lab. They also visited the Pasture field, where Research Officer Allen Molly led the team through various demos of pastures and legumes. These included both Indigenous varieties from different regions of Uganda and improved varieties like sogmaize, highlighting their efficacy for milk and beef production. Also visited was the Aflasafe facility which undertakes monitoring of the safety inclusive of the analytical platform used for quantifying the different contaminations in food and beef and developing bio-control products to counteract the aflatoxins. At the Dairy establishment, the visiting CoVAB team was conducted around the Zero waste infrastructure, right from the care and feeding of cows themselves to the technologies issued in processing dung into gas and other bye by-products including soap, shampoo, and manure among others. Also visited was the anti-tick Vaccine facility which is undergoing expansion and will eventually undertake massive vaccine production of Livestock vaccines which is already developed.
As a way forward, it was also agreed that the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity was bound to benefit from the high expertise of the staff at NARO by not only allowing them to teach at Makerere University but also enabling them to involve more of the CoVAB students in the NaLRRI/NARO research programs. The partnership would also enable the two institutions to make accessible all available equipment and facilities for use across the board as far as it is possible as well as harmonize training at master level/research.
Veterinary & Biosecurity
Makerere University and Partners Celebrate INSSPIRE Project Achievements in Evidence-Based Higher Education on Food Systems and Climate Action
By Harriet Musinguzi & Jacinta Nakaye
INSSPIRE, a flagship project housed at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB), has successfully concluded its three-year implementation journey with a final workshop held on Tuesday, 18th November 2025, at the Imperial Royale Hotel. The workshop brought together key stakeholders from leading universities across Europe and Africa to reflect on the project’s achievements, share lessons learned, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
Over the past three years, the INSSPIRE Project has made significant strides in advancing research, innovation, and capacity-building, particularly in the areas of food systems and climate action. Through its initiatives, the project has contributed to strengthening academic programs and aligning them more closely with societal needs and the evolving job market.
Some of the notable achievements of the INSSPIRE Project include the comprehensive review and enrichment of the curriculum, ensuring that learning is not only academically rigorous but also practically relevant to societal needs and the evolving job market. In addition, the introduction of real-life learning labs has provided students with invaluable hands-on experience, enabling them to engage directly with community challenges and apply their knowledge in practical, impactful ways. The project has also pioneered the use of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), linking students with peers from other countries to foster cross-cultural exchange and collaborative problem-solving. This innovative approach has strengthened the connection between academia and society, equipping graduates to become solution-oriented leaders in addressing pressing global issues such as food systems and climate action.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, was represented at the conference by Prof. Julius Kikoma, Director of Graduate Training. Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kikoma commended the remarkable achievements realized through the strong partnership of multiple universities under the INSSPIRE initiative. He underscored the conference theme, “Advancing Evidence-Based and Inclusive Education for Food Systems and Climate Action,” as a powerful reflection of the project’s commitment to tackling global challenges through innovation, collaboration, and shared learning.
Prof. Nawangwe noted that the INSSPIRE Project, centered on innovation for sustainability and societal relevance, has successfully brought together universities from the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, Kenya, Uganda, Benin, and South Africa. Within this collaborative ecosystem, institutions have reimagined higher education to make it more inclusive, experiential, and responsive to pressing challenges such as food systems transformation and climate change.
Nawangwe noted that this transformation comes at a critical time when Africa faces immense challenges in food security and climate change. Uganda remains highly vulnerable, with floods and other climate shocks severely affecting communities and livelihoods. He emphasized that food systems are under pressure from rapid population growth, unsustainable practices, and environmental degradation, while climate change is already impacting nutrition and resilience. Universities like Makerere must rise to this challenge, he said, and that through initiatives like the INSSPIRE Project, Makerere University joined regional and international partners to generate evidence, influence policy, and drive innovation though solutions generated by students, researchers, and communities.
The Vice Chancellor expressed gratitude to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the project’s lead institution, for fostering collaboration that has strengthened long-term partnerships between Makerere and universities in Europe and Africa. He praised this cooperation as a model of global academic partnership, where learning flows both ways and innovation thrives in diversity. He also thanked Erasmus+, the European Union, RUFORUM, FAO, national agencies, and research institutions for their support. Special recognition was given to CoVAB for providing an enabling environment, and to the dedicated Makerere INSSPIRE team led by Dr. Charles Drago Kato, whose leadership has been central to the project’s success.
Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine, Principal CoVAB expressed the commitment of the college leadership in moving the INSSPIRE innovations forward, as demonstrated in the innovations in the department of Livestock resources and the continuous development of staff to broaden the teaching of these courses. He said the college would remain part of the network and appreciated INSSPIRE for the capacity-building initiatives for the staff of the college especially in the new pedagogical methodologies like the real-life lab.
Dr. Denyse Snelder from VU Amsterdam gave a broad overview of the project activities they engaged in, including the capacity development on evidence-based and inclusive education, strengthening the university to community collaboration, and inter-university collaborations. She highlighted the key achievements realized, which include sixty lecturers actively engaged, 850 students reached through enriched courses, Five Hundred community stakeholders engaged, establishment of community practice with Eighteen Universities in Africa and Europe under the umbrella, South to South and triangular cooperation.
The INSSPIRE Project aimed to prepare students in higher education for labor market success by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to drive food systems transformation and adapt to climate change, thereby contributing to sustainable growth.
Veterinary & Biosecurity
Urban Farming & Climate-Smart Practices: Makerere Researchers Explore Innovations at Kyakuwa Farm
A team of scientists under the collaborative research project “Building Capacity for Innovation and Advancement of Climate Smart Agriculture in East and Southern Africa (CICSA-E&SA)” recently visited Kyakuwa Farm, a model site for urban farming innovations. The visit provided valuable insights into practical climate-smart farming technologies that can strengthen resilience and reduce emissions in urban and peri-urban livestock systems.
The Climate-Smart Agriculture project is led by Makerere University in partnership with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Norway), Maseno University (Kenya), LUANAR, and DARS (Malawi), with funding from the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education (Diku). One of its objectives is to develop a Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Platform to bring together key stakeholders to share experiences, promote proven CSA technologies, and build farmer resilience while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
The visit was led by Principal Investigator Dr. Nampanzira Dorothy Kalule from the Department of Livestock and Industrial Resources at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity (CoVAB), Makerere University. She was joined by other scientists, including Prof. Vincent Muwanika, whose combined expertise enriched the engagement at Kyakuwa Farm. Together, the delegation emphasized Makerere University’s dedication to promoting urban farming and climate-smart agriculture through collaborative learning and knowledge exchange.
While at the farm, the scientists witnessed a number of climate-smart innovations that reinforce the sustainability of the Kyakuwa dairy system. These included silage made from excess sweet potato vines, hay produced from Paspalum grass during compound slashing, and hydroponic fodder cultivated as a nutrient-rich supplement. To address the persistent challenge of flies, the farm applies diatomaceous earth, an organic insecticide, both in the environment and mixed with feed. This integrated approach, they learned, enhanced animal nutrition, improved herd health, and maintained environmental hygiene.
Prof. Jolly M. L. Kabirizi, Executive Director of Kyakuwa Farm and animal research scientist at Valley University of Science and Technology, welcomed the Makerere University team. She showcased her sustainable urban farming model, highlighting dairy production supported by innovative feed, waste management, and climate-smart practices that reduce costs, empower youth, and promote community engagement. The farm places dairy production at its core, integrating innovative feed and waste-management practices that embody climate-smart agriculture. These strategies enhance productivity, optimize resource utilization, and minimize environmental impact, making the farm a replicable model for sustainable urban farming.
According to the scientists, Prof. Kabirizi’s standout innovation is her concept of “turning waste into wealth.” Instead of relying mainly on elephant grass like many dairy farmers, she introduced the use of assorted organic market waste as a sustainable feed source. By training vendors in waste recovery, she incorporates bean pods, sweet potato vines, and pineapple residues into her feeding program. These unconventional resources now form a major part of her dairy system, cutting feed costs, improving sustainability, and reducing organic waste in urban markets.
Prof. Kabirizi complements her waste-to-feed innovations with sustainable feeding technologies that reinforce Kyakuwa Farm’s resilience. The farmer produces silage from surplus sweet potato vines, hay from Paspalum grass during compound slashing, and hydroponic fodder as a nutrient-rich supplement. To tackle the challenge of flies, Kabirizi said she applies diatomaceous earth organically in both the environment and feed. This integrated system boosts animal nutrition, strengthens herd health, and maintains environmental hygiene, showcasing climate-smart agriculture in action.
Kyakuwa Farm highlights a climate-smart use of manure by transforming it into a valuable energy resource. Through solar drying, manure is converted into charcoal briquettes that offer households a cleaner, affordable alternative to firewood. This innovation reduces reliance on traditional fuels, eases pressure on forests, and integrates renewable energy into livestock management, showcasing how circular resource use strengthens sustainability and climate resilience in urban farming. In her closing remarks, after successful deliberations with the scientists, Prof. Kabirizi urged the visiting scientists to champion early retirement planning among farmers, drawing on her own rewarding retirement shaped by community training and mentorship. She has empowered households within and beyond Wakiso District through skills in urban dairy management, climate-smart feeding, and value addition.
Veterinary & Biosecurity
Makerere Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health partner with VIQAP Consultancy Services and Stakeholders to Strengthen Biorisk Management Capacity among Laboratory Technologists
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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