The first-ever biobank in East and Central Africa that will store human Organs and Tissues is opening any time at Makerere University. This will enable the country to start Organ transplants like Kidney, Liver and others where Uganda spends billions of shillings annually abroad.
The proposed biobank is a brainchild of Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund and the College of Health Sciences.
With Biobanking in the country, Uganda will save foreign exchange especially with many Ugandans travelling overseas to do transplants.
The home of biobanking will collect, store and distribute biospecimen of various types of stem cells, blood components, spermatozoa, kidneys, livers, hearts, ova and other organs.
Prof. William Bazeyo, the Makerere University research and innovation Fund Chairperson says its normal for human beings to be fertile in the morning and infertile in the evening. Biobanking will help men and women to cover all gaps that may lead to barrenness.
The biggest concern goes to the delays in the passing of the Uganda human Organ donation and Tissue transplant bill 2020 that’s before Parliament.
Prof. Umar Kakumba the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Makerere University says biobanking will help lift the institution from the current 5th place ranking in Africa and also bring in learners from across the globe.
The Director-General of Health Services in the Ministry of Health Dr. Henry Mwebesa expressed optimism with the multidisciplinary team assembled to implement research and contribute to Uganda’s development efforts.
Researchers in the field of Ethics, Anthropology, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Molecular biology and Micro Biology are the brains behind the project funded by the Ugandan Government through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund.
