Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Kagyigyi Tumwebaze, and Minister of State Robert Migadde have led a high-level delegation on a tour of agricultural, livestock, and fisheries projects across Egypt to deepen bilateral co-operation.
Accompanied by Saad Moussa — Deputy Head of Egypt’s Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) and Supervisor of International Relations at the Ministry of Agriculture — the delegation represented Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouq. The tour began at the headquarters of the Middle East for Veterinary Vaccines Company (MEVAC), Egypt’s leading producer of animal vaccines.
The delegation inspected MEVAC’s production lines and advanced manufacturing technologies as part of a joint agreement to construct a state-of-the-art foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine plant in Uganda. The initiative marks a major milestone in a government-backed partnership aimed at strengthening animal health and biosecurity systems across Africa.
Moussa noted that the delegation also visited Dakahlia Poultry Company’s breeding and broiler farms to explore expanding exports of high-quality Egyptian poultry to African markets, particularly Uganda. The delegation was briefed on modern poultry management, biosecurity protocols, and advanced production methods.
The field tour concluded at the Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research in Abbassa and the WorldFish Centre, where the delegates were joined by ARC President Adel Abdel Azim. The visit featured detailed presentations on research and extension activities, alongside Egypt’s achievements in boosting fish production despite sector challenges.
The Ugandan delegation toured research ponds and an integrated aquaculture model that recycles fishpond water to irrigate vegetable crops — maximising water-use efficiency while utilizing organic nutrients from the fish.
Abdel Azim reaffirmed the ARC’s commitment to providing comprehensive technical support and transferring modern agricultural and aquaculture technologies to Uganda. He highlighted that integrated fish farming and crop cultivation offer a practical framework for maximizing land and water productivity.
The field visits followed extensive bilateral talks on expanding joint projects, including the Egyptian-Ugandan model farm, expanding strategic crop cultivation, and an agreement for Egypt to supply approximately 10 million FMD vaccine doses annually to support Uganda’s livestock sector.
