Scientists at National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) have declared that Uganda’s newly launched anti-tick vaccine, NAROVAC1, could transform livestock farming across Africa by effectively eliminating ticks without allowing them to develop resistance.
The genetically engineered vaccine, which officially entered the market last week, is being hailed as a breakthrough in the fight against tick infestations and tick-borne diseases that have long devastated cattle production in Uganda and across the region.
Speaking on the vaccine’s mechanism, Dr. Swidiq Mugerwa, Deputy Director-General in charge of Research Coordination at NARO and a senior member of the vaccine research team, explained that the vaccine works by triggering cattle to produce antibodies that attack ticks when they feed on vaccinated animals.
“When protein in the form of a vaccine is injected into a cow, the animal recognizes it as a foreign body and produces antibodies,” Mugerwa said. “When a tick sucks blood containing these antibodies, the antibodies attack and kill the tick.”
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He added that unlike conventional acaricides, ticks cannot develop immunity against the vaccine.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni described the innovation as “a revolutionary step in African agriculture,” saying it offers a lasting solution to the persistent challenge of tick infestations in cattle-rearing communities.
“The cows will now kill ticks. If vaccination is done repeatedly and cows continue killing ticks, eventually there will be no ticks on your land,” Museveni said during the launch ceremony, drawing applause from lawmakers, ruling party members, and stakeholders present at the event.
The President praised Uganda’s scientific community for the achievement and pledged continued government support for research and innovation.
“This is a big step by our scientific community. I congratulate the scientists, and I will give you all my support,” he stated.
Museveni also revealed plans to invite the scientists to vaccinate livestock on his own farms, joking that they would need to bring large quantities of the vaccine because of the size of his herd.
The President noted that ticks and tick-borne diseases such as East Coast Fever, anaplasmosis, heart-water disease, and Babesia infections have caused severe losses for cattle farmers over the years.
According to NARO officials, the vaccine manufacturing facility located at the National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NALIRRI) in Wakiso District is the first anti-tick vaccine production plant of its kind in the Great Lakes region of Africa.
The facility is expected to produce between 42 million and 60 million doses annually.
NARO estimates that ticks and tick-borne diseases currently cause Uganda losses exceeding Shs3 trillion (about $800 million) annually.
Dr. Yona Baguma, Director-General of NARO, said the development positions Uganda as a global leader in livestock research and biotechnology innovation.
“It is 100 percent funded by the Government of Uganda, and the research team is entirely Ugandan,” Baguma said in a phone interview. “We already have orders from neighboring countries.”
He added that the vaccine demonstrates NARO’s capacity to develop effective genetically modified technologies to address local agricultural challenges.
Clinical trials reportedly showed that NAROVAC1 is more than 95 percent effective against ticks and related diseases, with the potential to save Uganda’s livestock industry up to $1.1 billion annually.
Farmers are expected to vaccinate cattle twice yearly. The vaccine will cost farmers about Shs10,000 (approximately $2.70) per dose, while factory production costs stand at about Shs5,000 per dose.
Museveni also criticized the growing ineffectiveness of conventional acaricides, noting that many ticks had developed resistance despite repeated spraying.
Uganda’s State Minister for Animal Industry, Bright Rwamirama, described the vaccine launch as a turning point for the livestock sector.
“With this vaccine, we shall work towards ending the use of toxic and ineffective acaricides,” the minister said.
Following the launch, the President flagged off trucks transporting vaccine doses to Uganda’s cattle corridor, a livestock belt stretching from northeastern Uganda to the southwest and into neighboring Tanzania, where tick infestations are most severe.
