NARO inks new MOU with ILRI to improve animal breeds in Uganda

UGANDA – The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has announced a significant new partnership with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI),  to enhance Uganda’s animal breeds and production systems. 

During the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding, NARO’s Director General, Dr. Yona Baguma, emphasised the importance of this partnership in commercialising Uganda’s livestock sector. 

“We will build on our collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute, a global leader in livestock research, to develop and promote agricultural technologies and innovations to grow and commercialise the livestock sector in Uganda,” he stated. 

With 72.8% of Ugandan households involved in livestock farming, the potential impact of this initiative is substantial.

Dr. Appolinaire Djikeng, ILRI’s Director General, highlighted the institute’s long-standing commitment to Uganda.

He noted that over the past 12 years, ILRI has worked closely with local partners to reduce poverty by promoting efficient, safe, and sustainable livestock practices. 

“Our collaboration with NARO will build on past research efforts while charting out new demand-driven research by the Ugandan government and other stakeholders in the livestock sector,” Dr Djikeng remarked.

ILRI, which operates 14 offices across Asia and Africa, has an annual operating budget of US$80 million (about USh300 billion). 

This financial backing underscores ILRI’s capacity to contribute significantly to Uganda’s livestock industry, as evidenced by past successes. 

For instance, ILRI’s work has contributed to a remarkable increase in Uganda’s pig population, from 1 million to 8 million over the past 12 years.

Dr Bright Rwamirama, Uganda’s State Minister for Animal Industry, also expressed optimism about the partnership.

After a meeting with ILRI officials, he highlighted plans to collaborate on vaccine development and diagnostic kits for animal diseases. 

“Recently, the study showed that actually, we are now producing almost the same or even more than South Africa,” Dr Rwamirama added, underscoring the sector’s growing significance.

The partnership will focus on several key areas, including animal nutrition, health, and genetics research. 

It will also prioritise One Health research, particularly in antimicrobial resistance, vaccine development, disease diagnostics, and zoonotic diseases.

Additionally, the collaboration will address sustainable livestock systems by developing technologies and approaches that optimise livestock’s economic, social, and environmental roles.

Moreover, NARO and ILRI have committed to joint capacity-building efforts, including staff exchange programs, to enhance technical expertise. They will also develop collaborative research proposals to secure funding for future initiatives.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.