By Peter Wamboga-Mugirya
Africa’s first-ever genetically-modified (GM) banana, designed to resist black sigatoka, is now in Uganda.
Black sigatoka is a fungal infection transmitted via rain, wind, and through animal and human contact with banana plants.
The GM banana, a gros michel (bogoya), is under field trials at the National Agricultural Research Laboratory (NARL) – Kawanda since September 2007.
While Uganda and Tanzania are still developing biotech laws, Kenya is on trials of transgenic maize, cassava and potatoes under its 2006 biotechnology and biosafety policy.
By Peter Wamboga-Mugirya
Eleven Ugandan scientists have won over $8m as grants to conduct advanced scientific training and research in emerging issues, under the Millennium Science Initiative (MSI). The funds are from the World Bank and the Government of Uganda.
Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCS&T) officials say this is the first round, from over $30m under the MSI announced by the World Bank last year.
The beneficiaries include: Prof Callistus Baliddawa of Gulu University, Dr Julius Bunny Lejju of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Dr Thomas Gordon Egwang of Medical Biotechnology Laboratories and Justus Rutaisire of the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute.
Others are Prof Nelson Sewankambo, Patrick Okori, Dr Ssettumba B. Mukasa and Dr Denise Njama-Meya, all of Makerere University.
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