On April 30th, 2026, Uganda marked a defining moment in its agricultural transformation journey as President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officially launched the country’s first locally developed anti-tick vaccine and commissioned a state-of-the-art production facility, an achievement being hailed as a breakthrough not just for Uganda, but for the wider African continent.
The occasion was held at the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) – National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI) in Nakyesasa village in Wakiso District.
For decades, ticks and tick-borne diseases have undermined livestock productivity across Africa, costing farmers billions in losses through reduced milk yields, poor weight gain, and high mortality rates. Now, with the introduction of the vaccine branded NAROVAC®-ATV1, Uganda is positioning itself at the forefront of a science-led agricultural revolution.
President Museveni captured the significance of the innovation in simple but powerful terms: “The cow now kills the tick.”
Dr. Swidiq Mugerwa, the NARO Deputy Director General for Research and one of the scientists behind the vaccine, explained that the vaccine, developed using recombinant technology, utilizes antigens derived from local tick species, specifically the subolesin protein.
“When this protein is formulated into a vaccine and injected into the cow, the animal’s immune system recognizes it as foreign and produces antibodies against it. When a tick feeds on the cow’s blood, it ingests these antibodies, which then act to kill the tick.” Dr. Mugerwa said.
The vaccine is administered to cattle with three initial doses at day 0, day 30, and day 180, providing protection for a full year. Annual booster doses every 6 months ensure continued immunity.
The vaccine represents a shift away from reliance on acaricides, which are chemical tick-control substances that have long dominated livestock management but are increasingly problematic. Over time, ticks have developed resistance to these chemicals, while their toxicity has raised concerns about environmental safety and food quality.
A Milestone in Uganda’s Economic Evolution
President Museveni situated the vaccine within Uganda’s broader economic transformation, describing it as part of the country’s transition into a science-led economy and what he termed “phase five” of development.
Uganda’s economic journey, he explained, has evolved from post-conflict recovery through expansion and diversification to value addition and now to a stage driven by innovation and technology. The anti-tick vaccine joins a growing list of indigenous innovations, including advances in automotive manufacturing and human vaccines, signaling a future where Africa increasingly produces solutions for its own challenges.
“This is why Uganda is unstoppable,” the president declared, reaffirming government commitment to investing in science and innovation. He further proposed enhanced incentives for scientists, including tax waivers on salaries, to sustain momentum in research and development.
Built by Local Science, Backed by Strategic Investment
The NARO Director General, Dr. Yona Baguma, revealed that the vaccine, the first of its kind in Africa and second in the world, is the result of over a decade of research, the journey having begun in 2013, when scientists developed four candidate vaccines using ticks collected from ten agro-ecological zones across the country.
These candidates underwent rigorous laboratory studies, on-station trials, and field trials across multiple regions—including Mbarara, Maruzi, Nabuin, and Uganda Prisons farms—ensuring performance under diverse environmental conditions.
Results demonstrated an impressive 93.2% effectiveness against major tick species, including the brown ear tick (Engoha), blue tick (Entujjo), and the bont-legged tick (Embarabara)—three of the most economically damaging parasites in Uganda.
The development process was supported by a government of Uganda investment of approximately UGX 170 billion, which funded research, trials, infrastructure development, and the recruitment of skilled personnel. The newly commissioned facility now has the capacity to produce 36 million doses annually, equivalent to about 3 million doses per month.
Tested on Farms, Ready for Scale
Dr. Baguma also noted that before its official launch, the vaccine was tested on various farms. A total of 60 farmers across 30 districts participated in field trials involving over 12,600 cattle, 3,388 goats, and 367 sheep.
The results were striking, showing significant reductions in tick populations and a marked decline in tick-borne diseases. For farmers, this translates directly into improved productivity, lower costs, and more reliable incomes.
Uganda currently has an estimated livestock population of 16 million cattle. With ticks affecting nearly all production systems, the vaccine’s rollout is expected to deliver immediate and widespread impact.
Regulatory Approval and Global Standards
Dr. Baguma added that the process of research and production of the anti-tick vaccine was supervised by various regulatory bodies, including the Ugandan National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) and its various committees and the National Drug Authority (NDA). The UNCST cleared the vaccine as safe, efficacious, and effective, while the NDA inspected the manufacturing plant and issued a certificate of suitability of premises for manufacturing of drugs, a license to manufacture drugs, and a pre-market authorization.
Dr. Baguma further noted that NARO is setting its sights even higher, with plans underway to establish a NARO Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals City, a large-scale initiative requiring an estimated UGX 600 billion over three years. This facility would expand production to include vaccines for major livestock diseases such as foot and mouth disease, East Coast fever, Newcastle disease, Gumboro disease, lumpy skin disease, and African swine fever.
The NDA executive director, Dr. David Nahamya, described the new vaccine facility as “ultra-modern” and a model for pharmaceutical manufacturing on the continent, noting its readiness for regional and international scale-up.
“We have inspected several production facilities on the continent, but this is ultra-modern. It is value for money,” Dr. Nahamya noted.
He added that the milestone reflects the realization of President Museveni’s leadership and vision for Uganda to develop solutions to its most pressing agricultural and socioeconomic challenges through harnessing science, innovation, and collaboration.
A Regional Opportunity: Ticks Know No Borders
According to Dr. Baguma, the vaccine positions Uganda to not only meet domestic demand but also to export the vaccine across Africa and beyond, an important step given that Africa currently imports approximately 99% of its livestock vaccines.
He said the implications of this innovation extend far beyond Uganda since tick-borne diseases are a regional challenge, affecting livestock systems across Africa.
To address this, NARO is pursuing regional registration through the East African Community’s Mutual Recognition Procedure (EAC-MRP), alongside collaboration with the African Union’s Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (AU-PANVAC) to facilitate broader acceptance.
“With a scalable production system already in place, Uganda is well positioned to become a regional hub for veterinary vaccines, reducing dependence on imports while strengthening livestock resilience across borders.” He said.
Transforming Agriculture Through Research
The minister for agriculture, animal industry, and fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, described the anti-tick vaccine as a clear demonstration that Uganda’s agricultural research is delivering practical, market-ready solutions to farmers. He noted that the NARO production facility, with a capacity of 36 million doses annually, will reduce reliance on imports and strengthen the livestock sector. He revealed that since the engagement between the president and NARO scientists in December 2022, the government has disbursed about UGX 170 billion to support vaccine research, trials, certification, and infrastructure development.
He commended the scientists for their professionalism and patriotism, noting they had resisted temptations of being bought out.
He emphasized that research must consistently produce solutions that ensure safe, sustainable food systems, affirming that continued investment in NARO is key to transforming Uganda’s agri-food sector.
In addition to the anti-tick vaccine, he highlighted other NARO research products like improved crop varieties of maize, beans, rice, and sorghum, among others, as well as the production of machine prototypes, irrigation system prototypes, forage choppers, and maize shellers, and the production of the Aflasafe solution for the management of aflatoxin contamination and the production of biostimulants for plants that are safe in addition to other candidate vaccines in the pipeline.
“I therefore have no doubt that any further investment in NARO is and will be worthwhile. It is one of the sure ways to stabilize agriculture and the entire agrifood system.” He noted.
The State Minister for Animal Industry, Hon. Bright Rwamirama, highlighted Uganda’s improvements in animal genetics, nutrition, and animal health, including animals’ population attributed to the sector’s strategic intervention by the government. He cited the significant increment in milk production to 5.3 billion liters annually from 700,000 liters in 1990.
He emphasized that while farmers urgently need the vaccine due to growing tick resistance to acaricides, its successful rollout will require substantial resources. He urged acaricide producers to pivot toward safer alternatives in line with the global push for healthier, chemical-free food systems.
Through Dr. Baguma, NARO has proposed a partnership-based distribution model combining government infrastructure with private sector networks to ensure nationwide access.
Beyond its immediate benefits, the launch of Uganda’s anti-tick vaccine carries a deeper message: that African countries can develop, produce, and scale solutions to their own challenges.
With this milestone, Uganda has taken a bold step in that direction, one that could reshape livestock farming across the region and redefine the role of science in Africa’s development story.
