Mak Receives Biotechnology Laboratory Equipment under AfDB-HEST Project

Assoc. Prof. Denis Mpairwe (Right) oversees the delicate offloading process of the new Biotechnology Lab Equipment on 11th February 2019 at CAES, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda

Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) on Monday, 11th February 2019 received a consignment of the Biotechnology Laboratory equipment as part of the package for the university under the AfDB-HEST 5year (2013-2018) Government-secured loan. The consignment containing over 140 items was delivered at the School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS) and received by the Head, Department of Agricultural Production Associate Professor Denis Mpairwe.

The Ministry of Education and Sports is the coordinating unit for the AfDB-HEST project and the contracting authority and importer. The Contractor, consignor, is the Globe Corporations BVof the Netherlands.

The Government of Uganda through the African Development Bank secured a loan of US$100 million to improve science and technology in Higher Education Institutions (AfDB-HEST programme). Makerere University was allocated US$29.2 million in respect of infrastructure rehabilitation, refurbishment of laboratories, merit based scholarships at PhD, Masters and Undergraduate level, and refresher courses for middle management staff among others.

Under the AfDB–HEST Project, CAES has acquired an initial building; the Graduate Training and Research Laboratory that was constructed in 2018 and handed over at Makerere UniversityAgricultural Research Institute (MUARIK) in February, 2019. Pending under this item is the supply of the laboratory equipment.

The rehabilitation of the MUARIK Dairy Unit as a facility to generate money for the University and incubate students was completed in 2016. The other benefit from the project was the renovation of two CAES laboratories namely the Biotechnology and East laboratories in the second phase (July-December, 2016).

The Biotechnology laboratory has now been equipped with modern instruction facilities this February, 2019.

Details of the AfDB-HEST project components for the entire Makerere University can be accessed at: https://pdd.mak.ac.ug/afdb-hest/

Report Compiled by;
Jane Anyango,
Principal Communication Officer, CAES.