Dr Ggoobi Visits NARO Anti-Tick Vaccine Facility Ahead of Commercial Production

Nakyesasa  – The Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST), Dr Ramathan Ggoobi, has visited the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) Anti-Tick Vaccine facility at Nakyesasa to assess readiness and requirements ahead of its upcoming commercial production.

Dr Ggoobi was guided through the state-of-the-art facility by NARO Director General Dr Yona Baguma, his Deputy Dr Swidiq Mugerwa, and other senior directors.

During the visit, the PSST commended NARO for its contribution to agricultural research and development, describing the organisation as “actively solving real-life problems facing our country.”

Highlighting the government’s economic vision, Dr Ggoobi noted that Uganda is on a mission to grow its economy tenfold. Under the Agricultural Transformation and Modernisation Strategy (ATMS), agro-industrialisation is projected to contribute USD 20 billion annually over the next 15 years, driving the country toward a USD 500 billion economy by 2040.

Accompanied by Acting Director of Debt & Cash Policy Maris Wanyera and Commissioner Paul Mwanja, Dr Ggoobi pledged continued support to NARO to complete the vaccine project, noting the institution’s proven accountability and results.

Dr Baguma expressed gratitude to H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Ministry of Finance for backing the anti-tick vaccine research and the construction of the facility. He emphasised that NARO is now prepared to deliver the vaccine to the market, positioning Uganda as a global leader in cattle research.

The Nakyesasa facility is the largest of its kind in the world, with an annual production capacity of 42 million doses of the anti-tick vaccine, marking a major milestone in Uganda’s agro-industrial development.