ENTEBBE, Uganda — The East African Community (EAC) has officially designated the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe as its Regional Centre of Excellence in Virology, strengthening East Africa’s capacity for virus research, disease surveillance and response to public health emergencies.
The centre was launched on July 22, 2026, as part of efforts by the regional bloc to improve preparedness against infectious disease threats, including Ebola, Marburg and other emerging and re-emerging viral diseases.
The new regional facility will serve as a hub for advanced virology research, specialised laboratory training, diagnostics, disease surveillance and scientific knowledge sharing among EAC Partner States.
The launch was presided over by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who represented President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, alongside EAC officials, scientists, researchers and development partners.
Speaking at the event, Nabbanja said the establishment of the centre demonstrates the importance of strengthening regional health security and investing in scientific research.
“A nation that studies its own pathogens is a self-reliant nation,” she said, adding that Uganda remains committed to increasing support for research.
The EAC said the designation of UVRI as a regional centre of excellence reflects the bloc’s commitment to building stronger laboratory systems and coordinated responses to disease outbreaks.
EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Aguer Ariik Malueth, said regional centres of excellence allow specialised knowledge developed in one Partner State to become a shared resource for the entire region.
“By investing in centres of excellence, we are building a stronger, more coordinated regional health system that can better prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks for the benefit of all East Africans,” Malueth said.
The centre forms part of the EAC Regional Network of Reference Laboratories for Communicable Diseases Project, supported by the Government of Germany, which aims to strengthen laboratory capacity and pandemic preparedness across the region.
UVRI Director Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu said the institute would continue supporting the region through research, specialised laboratory training, diagnostics and surveillance.
“As a regional hub, UVRI will support advanced virology research, specialised laboratory training, diagnostics, surveillance and knowledge sharing across the EAC region,” he said.
The operationalisation of the centre coincided with celebrations marking 90 years of UVRI’s contribution to virology research, disease surveillance and public health in Uganda and beyond.
UVRI, a Ministry of Health institution and a World Health Organization collaborating centre, has played a major role in investigating infectious diseases and supporting outbreak response in Uganda and the wider region.
The EAC said the new centre will strengthen collaboration among member states under the One Health approach, linking human health, animal health and environmental sectors in addressing emerging disease threats.
