Dr Halid Kirunda Appointed First Chairperson of Uganda Veterinary Council

The Uganda Veterinary Council (UVC) has appointed Dr Halid Kirunda as its first Chairperson, marking a historic milestone in the implementation of the Veterinary Practitioners Act, 2024. His appointment signals a major step forward in establishing a strong regulatory framework for veterinary training, professional ethics, and practice standards across the country.

A highly respected veterinary epidemiologist, research leader, and humanitarian governance expert, Dr Kirunda brings over 32 years of distinguished public service to his new national role. He also serves as the Chairman of the Uganda Red Cross Central Governing Board, a position he has held since March 2019, where he has championed integrity, community resilience, and effective humanitarian response.

Dr Kirunda’s career began in the early 1990s within Iganga District Local Government, where he worked as an Extension Worker before rising to Assistant Sub-county Production Officer and later Veterinary Officer. These formative years grounded him deeply in rural community needs, livestock health realities, and evidence-based problem solving.

Academically, he holds a PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology/Public Health, a Master of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, and a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from Makerere University, in addition to earlier training in dairy science and veterinary practice. This strong multidisciplinary background positioned him at the forefront of Uganda’s veterinary research and public health advancements.

Dr Kirunda joined the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) as a Research Assistant and rose through the ranks to Research Officer, Principal Research Officer, and eventually Director of Research. From 2016 until his retirement, he led the Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (ZARDI), where he oversaw major advancements in livestock health research, dairy innovation, and institutional development. Under his leadership, Mbarara ZARDI was designated to host NARO’s National Dairy Centre of Excellence.

Throughout his career at NARO, Dr Kirunda contributed significantly to national innovation—including work linked to the NARO anti-tick vaccine and fungal bio-acaricide—and played an instrumental role in strengthening Uganda’s animal health research systems, biosafety standards, and scientific governance. He served on several influential committees, including the NARO Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, the Animal Vaccine Research and Production Advisory Committee, and the National Guidelines Task Force for Research Involving Animals.

Beyond research, Dr Kirunda is admired for his humanitarian leadership at the Uganda Red Cross Society, where he has upheld strong governance systems and fostered community resilience programs across the country. He has also spent more than 15 years lecturing and examining at Makerere University, Busitema University, and Bishop Stuart University, mentoring young veterinarians and scientists.

Colleagues describe him as principled, analytical, and compassionate—a leader known for humility, decisiveness, and unwavering commitment to public service.

As he assumes leadership as the first Chairperson of the Uganda Veterinary Council, Dr Halid Kirunda brings unparalleled experience in veterinary science, policy development, research management, and governance. His mandate is to build a strong, ethical, and professionally vibrant veterinary sector—one that safeguards animal health, protects public health, and strengthens Uganda’s food safety systems.

With decades of leadership and scientific excellence behind him, Dr Kirunda is poised to shape the future of veterinary professionalism and regulation in Uganda for generations to come.