Uganda's Daily Monitor reports that Prof. Charles Kwesiga, the UIRI executive director revealed this in a statement to President Yoweri Museveni, who on Tuesday, toured the institute at Nakawa.

“We have managed to renovate the premises, and are only awaiting the funds for the equipment,” Dr Kwesiga said. “I am, however, getting anxious about the fact that the procurement procedures, even when some of the highly specialised equipment we need are from very few suppliers, and the release of funds, could conspire to delay the project.”

In an interview, Dr Vinand Nantulya, who is spearheading the initiative said his first target would be the production of poultry vaccines.

“I decided to go in for this first because chickens act as a source of wealth and food for the poorest people in our communities,” said Dr Nantulya who until recently was working with the Geneva- based Foundation of Innovative New Diagnostics.

“Yet these birds are being wiped out by diseases such as Newcastle. Rural people need to be helped.” Dr Nantulya has also set up a facility at the Uganda Manufacturers Association show grounds that is manufacturing diagnostic kits for tropical diseases such as malaria.

President Museveni asked Ugandan scientists and researchers working in the Diaspora to consider returning home, saying plans were underway to have salaries of scientists prioritised.

“Meanwhile, Prof. Kwesiga said Uganda’s upcoming industrial parks “can succeed only if developed around a primary product that has good prospects for spawning a variety of other industrial activities.”

He cited value addition to livestock as an example. The firm will begin operations mid next year.