By Mulengera Reporters
President Museveni had been expected to preside over but the ongoing central regional wealth creation mobilization tours kept him away.
Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda ably represented him at the launching ceremony for the “Regional Gene Bank for Animal Genetic Resources for Eastern Africa.” Venue was the government’s livestock experimental farm station at Entebbe which is under the management of National Animal Genetic Resources Center (NAGRIC).
Put in place with funding from European Union, the Regional Genetic Bank (RGB) is an initiative of the African Union and will serve as the hi-tech conservation/preservation facility for indigenous animal genes and cells for the benefit of the 13 EAC and IGAD countries.
They include Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Djibouti and Somalia. Others are Eritrea, Comoros, South Sudan and Sudan. All of them, except Rwanda, sent high level delegations to witness the launching ceremony. MAAIF PS Pius Wakabi Kasaija, who also the event’s MC, said the Rwandan absence had been communicated with an apology causing some curious murmurs from the audience.
CONTEXTUALIZING THE EVENT
The background to the multi-billion project (under which indigenous gene samples will be collected from each of the 13 countries, processed, stored and when required transmitted) is that in 2007, the global community at the UN level came to the realization that indigenous livestock breeds were increasingly becoming extinct in favor of crossbred ones which was a concern across the globe.
Consistent with its Social Development Goals (SDGs), the UN considered this impending extinction to be an area requiring urgent attention and action. That is how the Global Action Plan on the conservation and preservation of indigenous animal genetic resources was enacted-and FAO was tasked the overseer role to ensure governments were supported and mobilized to take some remedial actions.
Gratefully, the AU already had the project on animal resources called AU-IBAR under which the EU agreed to fund the establishment of 5 Regional Gene Banks (RGBs) including the Entebbe/NAGRIC one which Rugunda launched today Friday 19th July 2019. The other 4 RGBs are in Botswana, Cameroon, Tunisia and Burkina Faso.
The new RGB has been stuffed with modern state of art labs to ensure safe storage and preservation of indigenous eggs, cells, genes and embryos all aimed at shielding indigenous animal genetics against extinction. Mbole explained that many livestock farming communities find crossbred animals attractive because they are perceived to have higher levels of productivity.
As he launched the new facility, Rugunda said the extinction of the indigenous breeds is something of great concern to the UN because of the adverse impact such would have on the SDGs-related global agenda for environmental sustainability, food security and improved nutrition.
As a UN member that is greatly committed to the realization of the SDGs, Rugunda promised full GoU support to ensure the objectives for which the RGB has been established in Uganda are fully realized for the benefit of the 13 countries.
“We have no choice but to extend all the necessary financial and technical support to this Regional Gene Bank because livestock is a very key ingredient to agricultural sector in this country,” Rugunda said responding to AU officials who had spoken earlier calling on government to support NAGRIC to ensure the facility remains the real regional center of excellence it was meant to be.
Rugunda assured the AU officials and those who represented the 13 countries at the launch that he was sure NAGRIC had the full political support of the very highest levels of government in this country. “The President specifically is personally very passionate on preserving indigenous animal genes. He first demonstrated this over 30 years ago when he donated a bull from his farm to the NAGRIC center which was a very rudimentary place then. We shall ensure our indigenous animal genetics compete with those from elsewhere in the world,” Rugunda said taking note of the reforms new NAGRIC ED Dr. Charles Lagul has initiated turning around the once written off NAGRIC into a vibrant and respectable government entity in such a short time.
Indeed, NAGRIC always had lots of potential but nothing couldn’t be visible because of poor corporate governance practices, the intrigue and leadership wrangles of the pre-Lagul era.
One of the indigenous cattle genetics to be preserved and conserved at the RGB is the Ankole cattle whose farming is wide spread throughout the East African region. It’s the same cattle brand Museveni is famous for marketing wherever he goes. Rugunda underscored the importance of the livestock sub sector to the GoU’s broader agricultural policy by sharing statistics on animal population.
Quoting from a 2017 report, the Premier revealed Uganda has 14.3m cattle, 15.3m goats, 4.3m sheep, 4m pigs and 41m chicken. “Remarkably, most of these are indigenous breeds whose preservation NAGRIC has a duty to preserve through its breeding programs,” Rugunda said.
He added that whereas there are threats coming from crossbred breeds that are rapidly becoming popular, he was optimistic with the vibrant leadership Lagul has ushered at Entebe-based NAGRIC, the trend will be reversed.
NAGRIC ED SPEAKS
In his speech, NAGRIC ED Lagul said the AU decision to situate the RGB at the NAGRIC Entebbe facility was an opportunity for Uganda to deepen its Pan-Africanist credentials jokingly adding this is something big-name Pan-Africanists like Rugunda must find very fascinating. He saluted partners like AU, EU, ASARECA and others saying with their support he was sure the RGB would achieve intended objectives.
Saluting a delegation from UNFFE, which unites Ugandan farmers, Lagul said it was the strategy of the new leadership at NAGRIC to prioritize working closely with private sector players to revitalize a vibrant livestock sector.
He also thanked his fellow EDs from sister MAAIF agencies like DDA, NAADS and NARO for their support and partnership. He assured Rugunda the NAGRIC team he leads was ready to leverage on the new facility to ensure all animal genetics that was becoming extinct is recreated for posterity.
Lagul caused laughter when he said he was certain all NAGRIC programs will succeed since President Museveni, a prominent cattle breeder for especially the Ankole long-horned cattle, is appreciative and very supportive of their work.
He said with the limited funding available, NAGRIC was currently undertaking three major project interventions aimed at strengthening performance of the livestock sub sector. These are aimed at revolutionizing livestock farming in Greater Busoga and Northern Uganda. The other grand project is about conservation of indigenous poultry breeds.
Agriculture Minister Vincent Sempijja introduced the MPs present and saluted youthful Lagul for the reforms he has ushered in at NAGRIC in such a short time. He assured the AU delegation that the RGB wouldn’t be neglected “because I know how passionate my good President is about livestock and this simply means all the necessary political support will be there.”
Preceded by a two-day General Assembly session of the 13 countries to be served under the Entebbe/NAGRIC RGB, the pompous launching event was attended many dignitaries including livestock sector Minister Joy Kabatsi, ex-Minister Victoria Sekitoleko, MPs, private sector actors, livestock-related researchers/scientists and representatives from IGAD and EAC secretariat. (For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
