Uganda Biotechnology News

17/03/2020

President Museveni last week tasked Evelyn Anite, the state minister for Investment and Privatisation and Ruth Nankabirwa, the ruling National Resistance Movement chief whip in Parliament to convene a caucus where the National Genetic Regulatory Bill should be discussed and passed. This was at a meeting with the members of the influential Presidential Investor Round Table at State House in Entebbe

13/12/2019

Big step for bio-economy enthusiasts. The National Varietal Release Committee in Nigeria has cleared the release of Sampea 20-T, a GM cowpea that is insect -resistant to the virulent pod borer.

23/10/2019

A bio-technologist take on the importance of seed
https://sciencenowmag.com/2019/10/22/it-is-easy-to-provide-good-seed-than-provide-irrigation-to-farmers-top-agric-scientist/

25/09/2019

A story that talks about the potential in the biosciences https://sciencenowmag.com/2019/09/06/bio-economy-as-a-catalyst-for-ugandas-middle-income-status/

17/09/2019

https://sciencenowmag.com/2019/09/06/drought-tolerant-maize-varieties-give-farmers-a-lifeline/

06/08/2019

NARO hopes to start availing GM cassava resistant to Cassava Brown Streak Disease to farmers in 2021 according to Dr. Andrew Kiggundu of the VIRCA Plus project. Speaking to stakeholders at Namulonge on Tuesday Kiggundu revealed that they were ready to submit data on the efficacy of the cassava to the Biosafety Committees both in Uganda and Kenya

30/05/2019

Uganda biotech scientists and journalists develop genetic engineering orthography. The team met on Tuesday and Wednesday at Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute and gave meaning to some scientific words. Trait was baptized feature, confined field trials was given researcher garden while chromosomes was called package of DNA. In total about 100 scientific words were given meaning.

24/04/2019

Two fast growing groundnuts developed by the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute have been given a green light by the National Variety Release Committee. Dr Okello Kalule with the varieties

18/04/2019

Phionah Mbabazi, a student of Kololo SSS is the winner of this year's National Biotechnology Essay Contest in the secondary school category.
The contest was organized by the Uganda Biosciences Information Centre, a NARO information hub. She awarded with a certificate and an e-tablet.
Here, with an official from the education ministry. 24 secondary schools from across the country participated with 146 submissions.

27/02/2019

The fourth annual National Biosafety Forum has opened in Kampala at the Serena Kampala hotel. The forum organized by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology under the theme of ‘Towards implementation of the Uganda Biosafety Regulatory Framework’ was opened by Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye, the minister for Science, Technology and Innovations.
He implored the scientist to continue with their research as they sort out the restrictive Clause 35 of the Genetic Engineering Regulatory Bill
Dr. Charles Mugoya, the chairperson, National Biosafety Committee said it was time to revise the biosafety policy. The current was drafted in 2008.
The forum brought on researcher scientists from Makerere University, and the National Agricultural Research Organization Others were members of parliament and civil society.

18/02/2019

International cassava experts discussing on how to improve cassava productivity using gains made through breeding technologies over time. This was at Speke Resort, Munyonyo, a few km outside Kampala. Experts came in from Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, U.S. and Ghana

04/02/2019

Rebecca Kadaga, the Speaker of Parliament has asked scientists to accept and work under the current Genetic Engineering Regulatory Bill and have their concern addressed later
Meeting scientists working with the National Agricultural Research Organization at the National Crops Resources Research Institute Namulonge Kadaga said opposing forces had given Parliament hard time to reach a consensus on the bill.
“It is our bill. Take it as it is and try to improve it later,” she said.
Scientists are concerned with clause 35 that has a strict liability.

05/01/2019

Clause 35 of the bill criminalises biotech science by broadening liability for any transgression in research to partners, scientists, and donors.
“A person who owns a patent in a Genetic Engineered Material (GEM) is strictly liable for any harm, injury or loss caused directly or indirectly by such a GEM to the community livelihood, indigenous knowledge systems or technologies, environment, biodiversity, ecosystems, species of fauna and flora, human or animal health,” the Clause says

04/01/2019

Is the end of GM research in sight with the passing of the genetic engineering regulatory bill here in Uganda with its restrictive clause that hold patent holders liable for an adverse effect from GM activities whether intended or not

10/11/2018

https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/education/training-courses/

06/10/2018

https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/2018/10/ugandan-scientists-reach-farmers-promote-agricultural-innovations/

29/09/2018

https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1486642/22-million-vines-farmers

The distributed varieties include the latest NARO varieties; NAROSPOT1, NAROSPOT2 Naspot 12, Naspot 13 and Naspot 8.

21/09/2018

MandiPlus, a technique where cassava cutting are immersed in a chemical to confer resistance against pests and diseases has shown good results especially in tree height according to Dr. Titus Alicai, a cassava breeder at the National crops Resources Research Institute Namulonge

21/09/2018

MandiPlus, a technique where cassava cutting are immersed in a chemical to confer resistance against pests and diseases coming to Uganda. Dr Titus Alicai, a cassava breeder at the National Crops Resources Research Institute Namulonge says

01/09/2018

https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/2018/08/ugandas-first-cryopreservation-unit-conserving-banana-diversity/

Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) is using liquid nitrogen to conserve banana cell lines in a pioneering effort that could help researchers striving to combat disease and climate threats. The science of storing tissues in liquid nitrogen, also commonly applied in medical ...

09/08/2018

Jackson Jurua, the vice president of the Uganda National Farmers Federation has added his voice to those calling for the enactment of the National Biosafety Bill. Speaking during a panel discussion during the launch of the ISAAA report on biotech crops 2017 at Hotel African in Kampala Jurua said whoever was denying farmers seeds bred using biotechnology including genetic engineering was being unjust.
"If there is a store where you are keeping the seeds we will break it," he said facing Barbara Zawede of NARO.

31/07/2018

https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/2018/07/africas-collaborative-biotech-research-bears-fruit/

04/07/2018

Prof. Patrick Rubaihayo, a leading bio-technologist at Makerere University want Parliamnet to depend on experts opinion when debating scientific bills. Speaking to Uganda Biotechnology News from his office at Makerere University, Rubaihayo said musicians, teachers and historian in Parliament need to depend on experts like him because fields like genetic engineering that involve looking beyond cells level is not simple science.

03/05/2018

Explaining the role dessert bananas can play in the economic development of Uganda.Dr. Jerome Kubiriba, the head of the Banana Program at the National Agricultural Research Laboratories- Kawanda says genetic engineering is useful in prolonging the shelf of the bananas as the country looks at the export market.

14/04/2018

By Christopher Bendana
Kampala
We want favorable science laws
Makerere University students under their forum, Makerere University Biotechnology Society braved the morning downpour to participate in the March for Science, a global movements that highlights the role of science in every day’s life
The students led by a band marched from the College of Natural Sciences passed by the Senate Building then through the Eastern gate before joining Bombo road. They marched up to Bwaise roundabout, then Sir Apollo Road before re-entering the university through the entrance at the College of Engineering Design Arts and Technology.
Timothy Nyanzi, a student of biotechnology and a March organizer said he participated in the March to show his passion for science. He argued that science plays a major role in development hence a need for equity legislation.
Jonan Twinamasiko, a biotech enthusiast said the March was a voice for appropriate legislation.
Arthur Makara, executive director at Science Foundation for Livelihood and Development said the March was an awakening call for the sleeping giant (Science) that can spur economic development.
Joan Nabwire, another biotechnology student at Makerere University said she participated to create awareness as there was a lot of misinformation.
Uganda has of recent seen a setback in scientific research with the deferring of the National Biosafety Bill back to Parliament by President Yoweri Museveni. Parliament had passed the Bill in October.
The National Biosafety Bill is meant to regulate the development and promoting of genetic modified organism. Uganda scientists have used GM research to bred crops that are resistant to pests and diseases and others have had their nutrition levels enhanced.
The crops are yet to be given to farmers as international obligations requires Uganda to first have a biosafety law.
On scientific funding Uganda like other African countries also face low science funding from the government with much of the funding coming from organizations like the Gates Foundation.