This morning, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Uganda, welcomed Professor Pontiano Kaleebu, Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and Head of Viral Pathogens, along with Dr. Deogratius Ssemwanga (PhD), Assistant Director of UVRI, at the Ministry of EAC Uganda offices, Kingdom Kampala House.
The discussions focused on the upcoming national launch of Phase Three of the €3 million EAC Network for Reference Laboratories, an initiative aimed at strengthening regional diagnostic capacities and disease surveillance. The officials briefed the minister on the progress made toward enhancing laboratory infrastructure across the East African Community (EAC), reinforcing Uganda’s commitment to public health innovation.
Also present on the minister’s technical bench were:
- Mr. Kayima Godfrey, Under Secretary of the Ministry of EAC Uganda
- Mr. Sebina Edward, Commissioner Social Affairs
- Mr. Leo Kizito Ojara, Commissioner Economic Affairs
Rt. Hon. Kadaga emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic had highlighted the borderless nature of infectious diseases, stressing the importance of harmonized strategies for prevention, management, and epidemic control among EAC Partner States. She noted that lessons from the pandemic underscore the urgent need for collaboration in research, healthcare preparedness, and response mechanisms.
Furthermore, the minister commended UVRI for its critical regional health support, particularly to the Republics of Burundi and South Sudan during the COVID-19 and Mpox outbreaks. She recognized Uganda’s leadership in strengthening epidemiological surveillance and laboratory capacity across East Africa, ensuring that the region remains well-equipped to handle future health challenges.
Brief History of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI)
The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) was established in 1936 as a Yellow Fever Research Laboratory under the Rockefeller Foundation. Over the decades, it has evolved into Uganda’s leading biomedical research institution, specializing in viral diseases, immunology, and public health interventions. UVRI plays a critical role in disease surveillance, vaccine research, and epidemic response, collaborating with global institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Canters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the African Union.
With a mandate to conduct virological research, UVRI has been pivotal in studying HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Marburg virus, influenza, and arboviruses. Its regional reference laboratories serve as diagnostic canters for major outbreaks in East and Central Africa, cementing Uganda’s reputation as a hub for scientific excellence in viral pathology and epidemiology.