KAMPALA — Uganda has launched its first locally developed modern biotechnology-based livestock vaccine, marking a significant milestone in the country’s scientific and agricultural advancement despite longstanding resistance to genetically engineered (GE) products.
President Yoweri Museveni, on April 30, 2026, officially unveiled the anti-tick vaccine, branded “NAROVAC,” at the National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NALIRRI) in Nakyesasa, Wakiso District, near Kampala. The vaccine is the first of its kind developed within Uganda using modern biotechnology.
The development comes amid years of opposition from anti-biotech activists, which has slowed the establishment of a comprehensive regulatory framework for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the country. Despite this, the government proceeded with the launch, signaling a potential shift in policy direction toward biotechnology adoption.
At the commissioning ceremony, Director-General of the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Yona Baguma, announced an ambitious plan to position Uganda as a regional hub for vaccine and drug production. He requested government funding of Shs 600 billion (approximately $141 million) to establish a modern, science-based production complex for livestock, crop, and poultry vaccines within the next three years.
According to Baguma, the proposed facility would be the first of its scale in Eastern Africa and the Great Lakes region, enhancing Uganda’s capacity to respond to animal health challenges and boosting agricultural productivity.
President Museveni reportedly endorsed the proposal and pledged additional incentives for scientists, including tax-free Pay As You Earn (PAYE) salaries for more than 700 NARO researchers in the coming months.
The launch of NAROVAC is expected to strengthen efforts to control tick-borne diseases in livestock, a persistent challenge for farmers across the region, while also highlighting Uganda’s growing investment in homegrown scientific innovation.
