NARO honors outstanding agricultural scientists for enhancing crop, animal productivity and resilience

In a bid to transform semi-arid areas of Uganda, the Minister of State Minister for Agriculture Hon. Fredrick Bwino Kyakulaga, is set to provide quality and high yield materials as a priority aimed at solving the problem of insecurity in most areas and making those areas as food baskets for their regions and the country at large.

The minister, who is by profession a Microbiologist, made the remarks during the award ceremony for NARO’s Plant Breeders while recognizing their outstanding contributions to agricultural research and innovation in Uganda. 

The event that took place at the Aquaculture Research and Development Center, Kajjansi, massively focused on celebrating excellence in plant breeding, highlighting innovations that enhance Uganda’s agricultural productivity and resilience.

The categories recognized include the following:

Category A: Breeding Teams:

According to Dr. Sadik Kassim, the Deputy Director General, in charge Agricultural Technology Promotion, Section 39 (5) provides that “NARO may award to the person responsible for the discovery, invention or improvement such bonus as agreed, or make provision for financial participation by that person in the profits derived from the discovery, invention, or improvement to such extent as the Organization may determine.

Further, section 9 of the NARO Intellectual Property Policy expounds on benefits sharing, with 40% of the monetary benefits shared with the research team in efforts towards providing incentives to stimulate creativity.

The benefits are shared strictly to intellectual contributors who have provided mental input in the conception or creation of a plant variety. The list of contributors was arrived at after a series of open consultations and verification with dossiers that were submitted for the release of the plant varieties.

“Honorable Minister, it’s my pleasure to present to you the breeding teams that intellectually contributed to the development of NARO plant varieties that were commercialized in the year 2023/2024,” said Dr Kassim.

Dr. Joseph Kikafunda.

Dr. Joseph. Kikafunda joined NARO in 1994 and was initially deployed at the Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute (NAARI). He retired from NARO service in 2006 as a senior research officer in the cereals program. Dr. Kikafunda has a Bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees in Agriculture from Makerere University. In 1978, he obtained his PhD in Crop physiology from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. His contribution in the cereals program included his work on the cultural management of maize and rice, which covered crop responses to soil fertility, seed rate studies for both maize and rice, and weed management. Dr. Kikafunda.

is a gallant alumnus of Mbarara High School and Nyakasura School who contributed to the development of Longe 7H, a licensed variety.

Dr. Godfrey Asea

Dr. Godfrey Asea is a seasoned Maize Breeder based at the National Crops Resources Research Institute. Dr. Asea obtained his PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Ohio State University in 2005, following an MSc in Plant Pathology and a BSc in Crop Science from Makerere University. Dr. Asea has been the national lead maize breeder.

for more than 16 years and has extensive experience in the commercial development of germplasm through breeding and management. He has released and registered more than 20 maize varieties that are commercially produced. Dr. Asea has received multiple international awards and honors for his research, including the Visionaries Award for Best Government Agricultural Research Institute in 2019, 2020, and 2021, as well as the Laurent, JICA President Award in 2019. He has also won several regional maize breeding and technology development awards from CIMMYT, recognizing his work in developing drought-tolerant maize varieties for Africa. Dr. Asea was the lead.

breeder in the development of, among others, UH5354, Longe 10H, UH 5051, and Longe 5, which are some of the licensed maize varieties.

Dr. Nkalubo Stanley.

Dr. Stanley Tamusange Nkalubo is a plant breeder/geneticist with over 22 years of experience in agricultural research and development. He has a PhD in Agriculture- Plant Breeding from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, an MSc. in Agriculture (Soil Science) and a BSc. Agric. (Hons) from Makerere University. Currently, serving as Director of Research at Rwebitaba ZARDI. He has also developed and released seventeen (17) high yielding bean varieties, which have significantly contributed to increased bean production and productivity, household income, and improved nutrition of the people of Uganda Dr. Nkalubo was the lead breeder in the development of, among others, NAROBEAN 2, NABE 16, 17 and 19 which are some of the licensed bean varieties.

Dr. Jimmy Lamo.

Dr. Jimmy Lamo is a seasoned plant breeder with over 20 years of experience in variety development, evaluation, and release. Currently, he is a Senior Principal Research Officer and a program leader for cereals (maize and rice). He holds a PhD in Plant Breeding from the University of Kwazulu-Natal, an MSc in Crop Science, and a BSc in Agriculture from Makerere University. Dr. Lamo has spearheaded the development and release of 20 rice varieties in the last 20 years. He has served as the Vice President and President of the Rice Breeding Task Force for Africa. Dr. Lamo was the lead breeder in the development of, among others, Namche 3 and 5, Wita 9, which are some of the licensed rice varieties.

Dr. David Kalule Okello.

Dr. Kalule Okello David is currently serving as Director of Research at the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI). Dr. Kalule is looked at in many circles as the father of ground nuts in Uganda and also leads groundnuts research in Eastern and Southern Africa with the USAID peanut innovation lab. He has a PhD in Plant Breeding from Makerere University. He has led the development and release of over 12 groundnut varieties with over 60 percent adoption. Dr. David Kalule Okello was the lead breeder in the development of, among others, Serenut 14R, which is one of the licensed groundnut varieties.

Mr. Solomon Kaboyo.

Mr. Kaboyo Solomon is a highly experienced research technician at the National Crops Resources Research Institute in the Cereals Programme where he has worked in various capacities since 1991. Mr. Kaboyo holds a Master degree in Crop Science at Makerere University Kampala. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Degree, a National Diploma in Agriculture, and a National Certificate in Agriculture from Bukalasa Agricultural College. He has also been very instrumental in activities towards improving maize productivity under drought stress, which led to the release of drought tolerant maize varieties. Mr. Kaboyo has contributed to the development of, among others, UH5354, Longe 10H, Longe 7H, UH 5051 and Longe 5, which are some of the licensed maize varieties.

Late Dr. Justus Imanywoha.

The Late Dr. Justus Imanywoha was a plant breeder/ geneticist by training. He joined NARO in 1994, where he worked as a maize breeder in was a Research Officer with the Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute (NAARI), now refered to as NaCRRI. Between 1988 and 1989- he worked as a research agronomist with the MAAIF research Division, and in 1993, before joining NARO, he was a plant breeder for rice with MAAIF. The Late Dr. Justus Imanywoha obtained his Masters of Science in Agronomy in 1983 from the Kuban Agricultural Institute in the USSR and in 1993 a PhD in plant science (Cytogenetics) from the Utah State University in USA. The Late Dr. Justus Imanywoha was the Lead breeder in the development of Longe 7H, a licensed variety.

Late. Steven John Okanya

 The Late Steven John Okanya was a technician in the cereals program in NaCRRI. He joined NARO in 1994 as a Lab technician. Between 1978 and 1982 he worked as an extension agent in Pallisa county in Tororo District and between 1985-1989 he worked at Serere Research station in the oil crop program (sunflower and simsim).

The late Mr. Okanya had a National Certificate and a National Diploma in Agriculture from Arapai Agricultural College. He obtained his Diploma in Crop Management Research from Egerton University Njoro in Kenya in 1998. As a technician in the cereals program, the Late Mr. Steven John Okanya contributed to the development of, among others, licensed varieties including Longe 10H, Longe 7H, and Longe 5.

The breeding teams cuts a cake with with the chief guest.

Category B: Source Institutes: 

Dr. Swidiq Mugerwa, DDG- RC Section 36, guides on the funds for the Public Agricultural Research Institute. Further, section 2.6.1 of the NARO IP giddiness provides that 1/6 of the 60% benefits to NARO arising from the commercialization of an IP shall be remitted to the source institute that led the generation of such an IP.

This in recognition of the institutes that have continuously exhibited commitment to the agro-industrialization agenda in their service and responsibilities. Appreciating their dedication, which reflects great credit upon the National Agricultural Research Organisation and the Country.

Honorable chief guest, this effort of commercialization and licensing of NARO plant varieties started with grain and pulse-related plant varieties. And NARO is moving to the next phase of handling vegetatively and clonally propagated plant varieties such as Potatoes, bananas, cassava, coffee and trees.

Honorable Minister, it’s with pleasure that I present to you institutes that developed the plant varieties that were commercialized in the year 2023/2024.

 1. The National Crop Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) has contributed to the development of over 40 maize varieties, over 20 bean varieties, and over 20 rice varieties, among others. NaCRRI’s contribution is enough evidence that agro-industrialization is a realizable goal in Uganda and has put NARO on the map. Among the varieties developed and released include those that focus on addressing biotic stress-resilient varieties, high yielding and disease resistant varieties.

This has helped the country to address different production constraints in low and mid-altitude highland areas of Uganda.

NaCRRI’s efforts have contributed significantly to the national economy and enhanced export. The bumper harvests from the high-yielding varieties and promotion of maize have increasingly made the crop become a major non-traditional export cash crop, particularly benefiting smallholder farmers, processors and other value chain actors.

2. The National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI) NaSARRI has spearhead the development of over 10 sorghum varieties, over 20 groundnut varieties, several varieties of sunflower, cowpea, millets among others.

NaSARRI’s admirable contribution towards development of high yielding sorghum, groundnuts, sunflower and millet varieties, some that have supported the brewing industry for years and supported the import substitution efforts.

NaSARRI’s contribution is enough evidence that agro-industrialization is a realizable goal in Uganda and has put NARO on the map.

CATEGORY C: SEED COMPANIES

Dr. Stevens Kisaka, Director Corporate Services, said that the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) has, over the years, generated and disseminated novel and improved agricultural technologies to end-users through both the public and commercial routes. The seed companies fall under the Commercial route.

With your support, substantial efforts have been made toward enhancing the commercialization of NARO technologies. These included the development of guiding institutional policy frameworks and establishment of structures, including the IP office, Incubation and Commercialization office, and NARO Holdings Limited.

The efforts for streamlining access and licensing of NARO plant varieties were initiated in 2021 after a series of engagements and consultations. This was in a bid to ensure quality assurance, traceability, and timely delivery of quality and adequate seed to the market. Starting with 13 seed companies, Honorable minister, NARO is happy to report that to-date 26 companies have been licensed to commercialize 92 plant varieties.

Among the companies that demonstrated compliance and adherence to seed ethics and the terms within the plant variety licensing agreement, he presented the selected seed companies to represent the 26 licensed seed companies below:

1. NASECO, also known as Nalweyo Seed Company. Located in Kikube, NASECO has been one of the leaders in the seed sector since 1996. NASECO has exhibited high levels of compliance with quality standards. Among many varieties allocated to NASECO are Longe 10H and UH5354 also known as Bazoka, which are leading in the market.

 2. Equator Seeds Limited was established in 2011 and is located in Gulu. Has proved to be one of the leading seed companies with a presence in all 16 regions of the country. Has promoted various NARO varieties, including UH5355 branded and marketed as Gagawala on the market, extensively working with cooperatives with 7 seed processing plants with color sorters. Equator’s adherence to quality and rigorous promotion of NARO plant varieties is appreciated.

 3. Syova Seeds Limited, formerly known as East African Seeds Limited, located in Kawempe and with a presence in various countries of East Africa, Syova markets various NARO plant varieties, including Longe 8H, largely referred to as line Munana.

NARO appreciates seed companies for the valuable and exceptional support rendered to NARO through the journey of commercialization of her intellectual property, especially plant varieties. Your generous support gives us the strength to continue and accomplish our mission of innovating for sustainable agricultural transformation