Research
The newly refurbished CoVAB-based Research Centre for Tropical Diseases and Vector Control (RTC) Commissioned
On Friday, 1st August 2025, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, officially inaugurated the newly upgraded Research Centre for Tropical Diseases and Vector Control (RTC) Lab at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB). The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the funding partner GLAVnet, the Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA), and the Uganda Animal Health Laboratory Network, staff and students of the college.
A once-outdated research lab in Uganda, as recently as 2015, has undergone a remarkable transformation, emerging as a multi-unit scientific powerhouse that now plays a pivotal role in advancing national health priorities and training students across diverse disciplines. Strategic partnerships fueled this revitalization, the most recent being the MoTAR project, Monitoring of Ticks and Acaricide Resistance in Uganda, implemented by CoVAB. With support from the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines(GALVmed), the MoTAR project will establish a total network of nine technically equipped laboratories across the country. The labs, three of which have been commissioned, including RTC, Gulu, and Kumi labs, will be central to diagnosing tick-borne diseases, tracking acaricide resistance, and generating data to inform national policy and improve livestock productivity.
“If I could launch laboratories every single day and do nothing else, I would,” declared Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor, during the unveiling ceremony. “Our vision is to transform into a more research-intensive, research-led university that journey begins here.”
He emphasized the transformative power of innovation, urging the community to view research not just as an academic pursuit but as a driver of development and job creation. He commended CoVAB for its remarkable research output, attributing it to the university’s ranking.
Prof. Nawangwe encouraged researchers to embrace a mindset of creativity and production. He noted the increasing volume of patent, trademark, and copyright applications processed by the university’s intellectual property office, which, he said, was evidence that scholars were now committed to turning ideas into impactful solutions.
The Vice Chancellor applauded the critical work taking place in the RTC lab, especially in addressing livestock mortality amid growing population pressures. He challenged vaccine researchers to ensure their innovations directly respond to the urgent need to safeguard the livestock sector, which is a cornerstone of national food security and economic stability.
While addressing the issue of a lack of jobs in the country, he said the responsibility of job creation lies on the shoulders of the researchers. “It is we who must create jobs through the students we train, and the innovations we make. We want every Makerere student to go out with a company in their hands to create jobs, he said, while congratulating the RTC team for the great work done.
The RTC lab’s strategic rise from humble beginnings
According to Dr. Patrick Vudrico, Head of the Facility and Principal Investigator of the MoTAR project, the transformation began in 2011, when the lab faced challenges of outdated equipment and limited operational capacity. Fueled by a vision for change, he said, a committed team spearheaded efforts to restore and reinvent the research center. A turning point came in 2016, when Dr. Vudrico received advanced training in Japan, which, coupled with the arrival of modern equipment, marked the beginning of a structured reorganization. By 2022, the lab had evolved into a robust multi-unit research complex featuring four specialized laboratories, namely genomics, serology, pharmaceutical research and development, and a general research unit, each aligned with CoVAB’s academic departments and Uganda’s broader scientific agenda.
The upgraded RTC Lab has become a magnet for budding scientists across a wide spectrum of disciplines and institutions. While rooted within CoVAB, the facility draws active participation from other colleges at Makerere University, including the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, particularly in the field of nanotechnology, the College of Health Sciences for pharmaceutical studies, the College of Natural Sciences for natural products research, and food science programs. Its national impact is further underscored by strong collaborations with external institutions such as Kyambogo University, Kampala International University (KIU), and Busitema University, and students from foreign universities. Beyond academia, the lab contributes to national health efforts as evidenced by collaborations with the FAO and JICA that have enabled community outreach, especially in Kiboga District, focusing on disease diagnostics and the management of ticks. Dr. Vudrico noted that the insights gained since 2013 stress the urgency of proactive research and rapid testing, since chemical resistance complicates tick control.
The PI explained that MoTAR, working closely with MAAIF, initiated efforts towards developing a digital National Information Management System. This integrates tick species mapping, acaricide resistance data, and pathogen tracking across Uganda’s ecologies. The refurbished and newly equipped labs will make high-quality data contributions to the system and in turn support the agricultural policy development in Uganda.
GALVmed supports small-scale livestock farmers through MoTAR
Speaking on behalf of the funding agency GALVmed, Dr. Johnson Ouma, the MoTAR Project Coordinator, expressed gratitude for the support provided by Makerere University towards the smooth project implementation. He underscored GALVmed’s mission to expand access to veterinary products and services for small-scale livestock producers, particularly those who lack the financial resources and proximity to essential inputs like drugs and diagnostics.
Dr. Ouma cited compelling research evidence that highlighted the widespread challenge of tick infestations and increasing resistance to acaricides, which has significant implications for livestock health and productivity. Thus, he explained the importance of investing in robust information systems capable of mapping acaricide resistance, tick distribution, and the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens.
He commended Makerere University for taking a leadership role in developing these innovations, with the intent that successful strategies would be replicated in other countries facing similar challenges. Dr. Ouma concluded with optimism, noting that the MoTAR project is expected to yield impactful outcomes, both locally and internationally.
Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine Applauds RTC Lab’s Transformation
The Principal of CoVAB, Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine, praised the RTC Lab team led by Dr. Patrick Vudrico for the impressive progress in revitalizing the laboratory. “It’s more than infrastructure; it’s a movement,” he said, emphasizing the lab’s key role in connecting classroom theory with hands-on experience.
Students are now being immersed directly into laboratory environments, gaining exposure to cutting-edge research and diagnostic techniques. Prof. Mwiine underscored that fifth-year veterinary students are actively deployed into districts, engaging with farmers and applying their knowledge on the ground.
This hands-on approach guarantees that future veterinarians are not only academically prepared but also rooted in community involvement and practical problem solving. Through training and outreach initiatives, the labs function both as learning centers and catalysts for societal change.
“We should take Makerere to the community and not the community coming to us” Prof. Mwiine added. He extended appreciation to MAAIF for the proposed 69 veterinary labs to be constructed in the country. He said the college continues to train students who will be handy in the use of the labs.
Prof. Robert Tweyongyere, Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources (SVAR), underscored the strategic importance of the RTC Lab by tracing its historical focus on tick-related research. He emphasized that tick resistance goes far beyond science, touching on economics, policy, and sustainability. “When ticks become resistant to acarisides,” he noted, “it leads to increased chemical use, higher costs, and broader socioeconomic consequences.” Prof. Tweyongyere celebrated the lab’s evolution into a national hub, now supporting other laboratories and diagnostic units in communities across Uganda. He further applauded the veterinary fraternity for its commitment to advancing animal health and spearheading diagnostic services in underserved regions.
By Moses Lutaaya
Makerere University is taking bold steps to transform doctoral education, moving away from an over-reliance on overseas institutions and reaffirming the continent’s ability to provide world-class doctoral academic training.
Addressing a gathering of PhD students at the end of the ten days cross-cutting doctoral course in Advanced Research Methods, at the University Main Library on Friday July 31, 2025, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma recounted his own academic journey and the challenges faced by earlier generations of scholars who sought opportunities abroad.
“Many of us were deflected and disheartened when policies restricted access to overseas programs unless they were unavailable in Africa,” he said. “We were made to believe that the best knowledge only resided outside the continent. But my experience taught me otherwise—Africa has the resources and intellectual capacity to nurture scholars capable of solving its own problems.”
He further shared how he eventually pursued his PhD at the University of Cape Town, later realizing that the perceived gap between African and Western universities was largely political and rooted in global power dynamics surrounding knowledge creation.
Prof. Kikooma emphasized the importance of “learning to unlearn and relearn”, a critical foundation of doctoral studies, adding that “serious doctoral studies demand openness, debate, critique, and a willingness to challenge entrenched ideas.”
He emphasized that Makerere University is now recreating the classic “101 Lecture” experience, traditionally offered at undergraduate level, where first-year students met renowned professors at the pinnacle of their disciplines. This model is being revived at the doctoral level, ensuring PhD students / candidates regularly engage with world-class intellectuals in teaching, academic writing, and publishing.
“We are committed to creating an environment where intellectual curiosity thrives. Doctoral training is about stretching your thinking and using it creatively to solve national and global problems. We want every PhD student here to leave with no regrets about choosing Makerere University.”
The training of PhD students in Cross Cutting Courses is part of a broader vision to position the university as a leading hub for high-quality PhD production in Africa, responding to calls from regional leaders and the World Bank for the continent to massively scale up its human capital development.
He noted further that Makerere University produced 144 PhD graduates last year, far below the numbers required to meet National Development Targets. “Our goal entrenched in Makerere University Strategic plan 2025-2030 is to triple that figure within five years. We want to revive Makerere University position as the intellectual engine driving Uganda’s transformation over the next decade.” He added.
Prof. Kikooma concluded with a call for confidence building in African scholarship, urging doctoral students to believe in the value of their own institutions and research in shaping the continent’s future.
Relatedly, the lead trainer and coordinator of the training Prof. Christopher Mujimu has reaffirmed the University’s commitment to producing high-quality PhD graduates equipped to tackle Africa’s most pressing challenges, with the training initiatives aimed at strengthening doctoral research methodologies and academic confidence.
“The existence of doctoral programs without facilitating students with advanced research methodologies does not make sense,” Prof. Mujimu said. “Students need to know what methods to use in qualitative, quantitative, or mixed paradigms to avoid being thrown into the ocean without knowing what to do. This training saves them time, gives them confidence, and allows them to produce quality data, professional reports, and policy-relevant outputs.”
He added that the Advanced Research Methods training course, which brings together doctoral students from various disciplines, adopts a multidisciplinary and hands-on approach, enabling participants to design research titles, refine problems, develop instruments, and plan data analysis within the training period. He reckoned that this approach will improve PhD completion rates and reduce prolonged delays that previously plagued doctoral programs at Makerere University.
The Vice president of Cohort one PhD students Dorothy Kirumira from the College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies said that Advanced Research Methods training is an eye opener which everyone should attend before they start doing their doctoral research.
“This course helps PhD candidates / students to understand how they should conduct doctoral research. Personally I thought I knew what I was doing, until I attended this course. I realized I lacked the knowledge and all I knew was basic.” She added.
On how this course would improve the quality of the PhD output, Dorothy said, “We have already overhauled our research proposals. Major adjustments have been done in earlier half-baked proposals. Am glad that am meeting my doctoral committee after this training. I feel very confident with now a clear direction to defend my work.”
She concluded that the quality of their research will add a big block in meeting the National Development Agenda of relevant policy formulation and implementation.
The President of Cohort 1 PhD students Mr. Moses Ebiru Wang’koko said, “Advanced Research Methods is important for doctoral students of Makerere University, especially in African contexts, as this equips researchers with the necessary tools to design studies that reflect local settings. This training that we have had extends beyond foundational academic skills and focuses on developing research competencies, ethical awareness, and the ability to address complex research questions relevant to specific field or disciplinary contexts.”
On how the training will impact their PhD output, Moses added, “Teaching Advanced Research Methods provides doctoral students with guidance throughout the research process, covering stages such as question formulation, data analysis, and ethical considerations, and includes both qualitative and quantitative methods. This PhD training has been designed to prepare us as researchers from Makerere University to develop studies that are methodologically sound, meet international standards, and consider local contexts research to contribute to academic knowledge and address societal issues.”
Business & Management
COVID-19 Deepened Food Insecurity Among Uganda’s Urban Poor, With Women Hit Hardest, EfD Study Finds
Kampala – July 31, 2025
A study by researchers from the EfD-Mak Centre at Makerere University has revealed stark gender differences in the impact of COVID-19 on food security among Uganda’s urban poor, with female-headed households bearing the brunt of the crisis. The findings were presented at a stakeholder dissemination meeting held at Tick Hotel in Kawempe Division, Kampala.
The research, led by Dr. Fred Matovu, Fred Kasalirwe, and Anitah Kyamugabwa, focused on Kawempe Division, one of Kampala’s most densely populated and low-income areas. Using data from a 2022 household survey of 415 respondents, along with focus group discussions and interviews with key government stakeholders, the study examined how the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic disruptions worsened food security in informal urban settings.
Speaking on behalf of the EfD Uganda Director, Dr. Peter Babyenda stressed that Uganda’s current social protection structures are inadequate, especially for the most vulnerable. He called for policy frameworks that are informed by grassroots realities. “We need policies that involve those affected from the ground up, especially the urban poor who live on daily incomes. During COVID-19, these groups suffered immensely when lockdowns were imposed without consultations,” he said.
The study, titled “Differences in COVID-19 Effects on Food Security and Adaptive Strategies among the Urban Poor: Experiences from Uganda and Tanzania”, was conducted between 2022 and 2023 in collaboration with EfD Tanzania. In Uganda, the research focused on how urban poverty intersected with gender and food insecurity.
Presenting the findings, Fred Kasalirwe reported that poor urban households, especially those relying on informal employment, were disproportionately affected due to low and unstable incomes. The containment measures introduced in March 2020 including stay-at-home orders, closure of schools, suspension of public transport, and night curfews had a devastating effect on daily earners. As economic activity halted, access to food, healthcare, and essential services declined sharply.
The research found that food security and dietary quality worsened for both male- and female-headed households. However, the impact was more severe for female-headed households due to greater caregiving responsibilities and fewer income-generating opportunities. With limited access to social safety nets, families resorted to extreme coping strategies such as selling household assets, depleting savings, and changing their diets involuntarily. Kasalirwe noted that government food assistance during the crisis was inconsistent and insufficient.
He explained that female-headed households faced unique challenges, often balancing caregiving with limited means to earn income during lockdowns. “These households suffered more from income shocks, leading to worsened nutrition among children and the elderly,” he said. Most had to rely on informal networks or personal savings to survive.
The study also noted an unexpected finding: persons with disabilities experienced relatively improved food security during the crisis, likely due to targeted social support. However, this level of support was not extended to most households, exposing critical gaps in Uganda’s social protection systems.
While the COVID-19 pandemic was a primary focus, researchers emphasized that food insecurity among the urban poor in Uganda has been driven by a wider series of shocks. These include prolonged droughts, floods, mudslides, economic recessions and the suspension of major aid programs such as USAID. Each of these events has further strained already fragile food systems and household resilience.
Kasalirwe warned that unless Uganda adopts robust and inclusive social protection policies, the country will remain vulnerable to future crises. He urged the government to consider gender-responsive strategies that recognize the disproportionate burden carried by women and informal workers. “Government programs often collapse because communities are not involved in designing or owning them,” he said. “What we need is a bottom-up approach where self-help mechanisms and community buy-ins are developed alongside government interventions.”
He further noted that while COVID-19 provided the context for the study, the findings are applicable to a wide range of future shocks, including public health emergencies, climate change, and global economic downturns. “We’ve seen floods in Mbale, Ebola outbreaks, and the ripple effects of the Ukraine war. We need systems that don’t crumble when funding dries up,” he said.
The researchers urged both the government and development partners to shift focus from emergency responses to long-term resilience building. They emphasized that coping strategies such as selling productive assets or reducing food intake are impoverishing and unsustainable. The study called for a strong policy framework that prioritizes food security, supports vulnerable populations, and enhances urban livelihoods.
The study recommends a participatory approach that actively involves vulnerable communities in the design and implementation of social protection programs. It also calls for the establishment of community-based safety nets that are sustainable even in the absence of regular government funding. The researchers stressed the importance of gender-sensitive planning, especially in informal settlements where women face heightened challenges during economic shocks. Additionally, the government is urged to streamline its social protection initiatives through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, ensuring effective outreach and awareness to reach those most at risk.
The research was funded by the EfD Global Hub and coordinated by the EfD-Mak Centre. Participants at the dissemination meeting echoed the urgency of addressing urban food insecurity and preparing more effectively for future crises.
More photos from the workshop
Jane Anyango is the Communication Officer EfD Uganda.
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