Dr. Yona Baguma, director general of the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), unveiled a sweeping portfolio of new crop varieties and livestock technologies at the 13th Certified Public Accountants Economic Forum.
The forum, organized by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU), ran from July 9 to 11, 2025, at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe.
Baguma highlighted NARO’s extensive work in developing high-yield crop varieties and advanced livestock breeding programs, alongside climate-smart technologies and nutrition-enhancing food products.
He emphasized research’s crucial role in improving livelihoods, developing agro-product prototypes for industrialization and safeguarding food security.
“Every time you sit at the table to eat, NARO is your silent visitor because your meal is largely, if not entirely, originating from NARO,” Baguma said.
“We innovate for sustainable agricultural transformation, but our focus is clear: increasing productivity and securing the future of our nation.”
Over the past three decades, NARO has developed 1,038 technologies, each with the potential to create an industry.
These include 289 improved crop varieties, many of which are now staples in Uganda and the wider region.
Baguma cited the case of cassava mosaic disease, which NARO defeated through local research.
“This speaks to the power of local innovation,” he said. “What we solve here can change the world.”
He also highlighted Vitamin A-rich maize variety 63, developed to combat malnutrition in weaning children.
NARO has developed cream, yellow and purple-fleshed sweetpotato varieties, with the latter known for its detoxification properties.
Baguma presented black rice, a variety with a low glycaemic index that supports diabetics by regulating blood sugar levels.
“It’s not just about growing food,” he said. “It’s about growing health.”
In the livestock sector, Baguma noted widespread low productivity due to poor genetics and inadequate nutrition.
NARO is working to improve poultry genetics, aiming to boost local chicken egg production and shorten the time to reach table weight.
The organization is also developing customized feed systems using its Africa’s largest pasture germplasm collection.
NARO’s potato innovations have saved Uganda more than $9.8 million annually, replacing imports with locally grown varieties.
A new groundnut variety with high oil content is slated for use by food industries to reduce reliance on imported ingredients.
The organization has developed more than 10 products from cow dung, including liquid soap, pesticides and fertilizers.
Baguma announced the development of a fish smoking kiln capable of reducing toxic compounds to below 1 part per billion.
NARO has also developed an anti-tick vaccine, which Baguma said is poised to save Uganda 3.8 trillion shillings annually in livestock losses.
The vaccine has proven more than 90% effective, a feat unmatched globally.
“We conducted thorough evaluations on vital organs — kidneys, brain, spleen — and the results are clear: our vaccine is safe, effective and world-class,” Baguma asserted.
NARO is working on a quadrivalent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine to end the country’s dependence on expensive vaccine imports.
Baguma concluded by praising innovations like Aflasafe, a product developed to combat aflatoxin contamination in grains.
He called for greater collaboration across sectors, stating, “As accountants and financial minds, you must understand that every technology we roll out has value. Each is a potential industry.”
