History
Nine Decades of Fighting Viral Disease in Africa
The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) was established in 1936 as the Yellow Fever Research Institute in Entebbe, Uganda. Founded at a time when tropical viral diseases posed an existential threat to populations across East and Central Africa, the institute was set up to investigate the ecology, transmission, and control of yellow fever and other arboviruses.
Over the decades, UVRI evolved from a small colonial research outpost into one of Africa's foremost centres for infectious disease research. Today, the institute is a statutory body under Uganda's Ministry of Health, operating a broad portfolio of research spanning HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Zika, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, and emerging viral threats — with a mission to generate knowledge that protects the health of Ugandans and the wider region.
From the forests of Zika Hill to the laboratories of the MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit, UVRI's work has shaped global understanding of viral pathogens for over 90 years.
Our Journey Through Time
Key milestones in UVRI's history from its founding to the present day.
Founded as the Yellow Fever Research Institute
Established in Entebbe by the colonial government, the institute was tasked with investigating the ecology and transmission of yellow fever across East and Central Africa. Early researchers worked in the forests surrounding Lake Victoria to study mosquito vectors and primate reservoirs.
Discovery of the Zika Virus
In 1947, UVRI researchers — working in what is now known as Zika Forest, Entebbe — isolated a previously unknown flavivirus from a rhesus macaque. The virus was named Zika, after the forest in which it was found, marking one of the institute's most historically significant scientific contributions.
Renamed Uganda Virus Research Institute
Following Uganda's independence and a series of institutional restructurings, the institute was renamed the Uganda Virus Research Institute, reflecting its expanded national mandate to address the full spectrum of viral diseases affecting Ugandan communities.
HIV/AIDS Research Programme Launched
As the HIV/AIDS epidemic swept through East Africa, UVRI established a dedicated HIV/AIDS research programme in partnership with the UK Medical Research Council (MRC). The programme became one of the longest-running and most productive HIV cohort studies on the continent.
Establishment of the MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit
A formal partnership with the UK Medical Research Council resulted in the creation of a joint research unit based at UVRI's Entebbe campus. The unit brought significant international funding and scientific capacity, enabling large-scale clinical trials and epidemiological studies.
Ebola and Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Preparedness
Following outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg virus in Uganda, UVRI played a central role in outbreak investigation and response. The institute strengthened its capacity for rapid diagnostic testing and field epidemiology, establishing protocols that continue to guide national outbreak response today.
Zika Virus Global Research Response
When the Zika virus emerged as a global public health emergency, UVRI — as the site of the virus's original discovery — became a reference centre for international researchers. The institute contributed archival samples, ecological data, and field expertise to the global scientific response.
UVRI at 88 — Looking Ahead
Today, UVRI operates as a leading national public health research institution with a staff complement of over 400 scientists, clinicians, and support personnel. The institute continues to expand its research portfolio into emerging infectious diseases, genomics, and vaccine development, with an eye toward Uganda's health challenges in the decades ahead.
UVRI in Focus
A closer look at the institute's work, people, and impact.
Through the Years
A glimpse into UVRI's history through photography.
Voices from Our Community
What researchers, partners, and community members say about UVRI's work.
"UVRI has been at the forefront of infectious disease research in Africa for nearly a century. Their contributions to our understanding of arboviral diseases are unmatched on the continent."
"Working alongside UVRI scientists during the 2011 Ebola outbreak was a privilege. Their institutional knowledge and field capacity were decisive in containing the outbreak quickly."
"The MRC/UVRI partnership has produced some of the most important HIV research in the world. Decades of cohort data from Masaka and Kalungu have been transformative for global HIV science."
Directors Through the Decades
The leaders who have shaped UVRI's scientific mission.
Dr. Alexander Haddow
1945 – 1964
Dr. James Mugerwa
1964 – 1978
Prof. Samuel Nsubuga
1978 – 1995
Dr. Pontiano Kaleebu
1995 – 2012
Prof. Celia Kabali
2012 – PresentBe Part of the Next Chapter
UVRI welcomes collaborations with researchers, institutions, and partners committed to advancing health in Africa and beyond.
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