NARO Annual Report 2024/2025

Abstract

Message from the Chairman, NARO Governing Council Agriculture remains a firm cornerstone of Uganda’s economy and its importance is expected to continue because of the increasing population and food security demands. Agricultural research plays a critical role to ensure agricultural transformation to support food and income security, and agro-industrialisation. In the Financial year 2024/2025, NARO intensified its focus on interventions that directly address national development priorities outlined in the National Development Plan III (NDP III). NARO’s strategic alignment with overarching frameworks ensures that its research outputs are impactful. As a governing council, we are committed to ensure an enabling policy environment and guide investment. We approved the new NARO Strategic Plan (2025/26–2029/30), the Annual Workplan, Budget Framework Paper and Ministerial Policy Statement for FY 2025/26. We also approved nine (09) policies and strategic documents. These include: the Transport and Fleet Management Policy; Environmental and Social Safeguards Policy; Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability (PMEA) Policy; Grants Management Guidelines; Revised Council Charter; Plant Variety Replacement Strategy; Feed Production Commercialization Model; and a proposal to establish the National Sugar Research Institute. We further appointed new advisory committees to provide technical guidance for PARIs. On behalf of the NARO governing council members, I extend our sincere gratitude to His Excellency the President and Government of Uganda for the commitment towards supporting agricultural research. The progress made has been due to unending invaluable support. We continue to pray for increased and sustainable investment to cover the remaining research and development gaps to have a comprehensive economic impact. Further, I convey my great appreciation to development partners and collaborators that have walked the transformative journey with NARO throughout the years. Finally, I thank the Director General, Management and staff of NARO for their dedication and consistency in delivering a successful FY 2024/2025. Looking ahead, we committee to continue to champion policies that promote agricultural innovations, enhance linkages to industry and extension services Dr. William Olaho-Mukani, Chairperson, NARO Governing Council