The National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) hosted a high-level technical supervision and monitoring mission under the Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project (UCSATP), aimed at strengthening climate-smart and resilient livestock systems in Uganda.
The mission, taking place at NAGRC&DB facilities in Entebbe, brings together technical experts and project partners to assess ongoing and proposed investments that are critical to improving livestock productivity, genetic quality, and climate resilience.
According to NAGRC&DB, the visit includes guided inspections of key national facilities, among them the National Livestock Quarantine and Evaluation Centre, the Livestock Experimental Station, the National Bull Stud, the Semen Processing and Evaluation Centre, and the National Gene Bank. The delegation is also engaging directly with NAGRC&DB management and technical teams to review progress and future plans.
“This mission is focused on ensuring that proposed investments under the Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project are well aligned with our mandate of conserving, improving, and sustainably utilising Uganda’s animal genetic resources,” NAGRC&DB said in a statement.
Discussions during the mission are centred on a range of planned UCSATP-supported interventions at NAGRC&DB. These include the rehabilitation and expansion of the National Bull Stud, restocking with proven climate-smart dairy and beef sires, expansion and equipping of the semen processing laboratory, and the revamping of animal genetic resources centres into centres of excellence for breeding and production.
Other key proposals under review include the establishment of assisted reproductive technologies infrastructure and capacity building for community-based Artificial Insemination technicians, aimed at extending quality genetic services to farmers across the country.
“These investments are expected to significantly improve livestock productivity and genetic quality, while enhancing resilience to climate variability,” the centre noted. “They will also strengthen national breeding systems and ensure the sustainable delivery of livestock genetic services beyond the life of the project.”
The technical engagements are also reviewing infrastructure designs, equipment specifications, Bills of Quantities, as well as environmental and social safeguards, to ensure that all interventions are responsive to on-ground realities and climate resilience objectives.
Established under the Animal Breeding Act, 2001, NAGRC&DB is a statutory semi-autonomous body under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), with a mandate to conserve, improve, and regulate animal genetic resources in Uganda.
Officials say the outcomes of the mission will help refine investments under UCSATP and reinforce Uganda’s commitment to climate-smart agriculture and sustainable livestock development.
Early in the month, NAGRC successfully concluded a targeted farmer support outreach at Kasolwe Stock Farm, Kamuli District, focusing on strengthening livestock value chains in the Busoga sub-region.
Key distributions included 20 pure Jersey bulls, 185 grandparent pig stock, 50,000 brooded Kuroiler chicks, 85 goats, 500 fertility boosting mineral salt bags, and 20 Artificial Insemination kits with assorted semen.
These interventions enhance genetics, production efficiency, and household earnings. The outreach was officiated by the Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Member of Parliament (MP) -Kamuli District Women’s Constituency and First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda & Minister for East African Community Affairs.
NAGRC Executive Director, Dr Peter Beine Ahimbisibwe, encouraged farmers to apply improved breeding, feeding, and management technologies demonstrated at the farm. This initiative aligns with Government efforts to improve livestock production through government stock farms.
