Researchers from the East and Central Africa sub-region have started a five-day benchmarking exercise in Uganda to study the local laboratory technological advancements.  

They are from the National Agricultural Research Institutions (NARIs) of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) member countries.

Eight out of a total of 14 member countries were invited and they included Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), Eritrea, Republic of Congo(Brazzaville), South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda the host. Madagascar was invited but never sent a representative.  

Dr. Ephraim Nuwagaba at Namulonge National Agricultural Research Institute where he received delegates from eight countries for a five-day benchmarking exercise in Uganda on October 18,2021.

The program, funded by the European Union and managed by the International Fund for Agricultural development (IFAD) is implementing a five-year project titled Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) ex-pillar 4 aimed at contributing to the implementation of Agenda 2030 and the sustainable development goals, which include, among others achieving zero hunger, mitigating climate change impacts, ending poverty, among others. It also aims at improving agricultural research and sharing knowledge among research organizations.  

ASARECA picked on Uganda because of her advancements in agricultural research capabilities and chose participants from member countries with low research capacities.  

One of the nutritious potato varieties at Namulonge

At the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) at Namulonge, the scientists were taken through Uganda’s recent improvements in laboratory research and their innovations in food testing and fast disease detection methods.

Lead researchers that handled the team include Dr. Ephraim Nuwagaba a senior research officer in charge of nutrition and biotechnology laboratory under NARO, Dr. Henry Wagaba, the head of the molecular and tissue culture, among others.

They went through the methods their counterparts in Uganda are using to deal with food adulteration and contamination and fake agricultural inputs on the market, among others.

Dr. Ephraim Nuwagaba explaining to the visiting scientists about Uganda's advances in laboratory technologies at Namulonge National Agricultural Research Institute. Delegates came from eight countries for a five-day benchmarking exercise in Uganda

Uganda has also made advancements in breeding different potato and cassava varieties vital for nutrition and health of, especially children and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.