It is my great honor and pleasure to share with our esteemed readers news from research and development at NARL during the start of this financial year 2025/2026. NARL has shaped agricultural research in Uganda and still momentously contributes to the development of the agricultural sector and socio-economic development of Uganda.
Throughout its journey of over 90 years since its establishment in 1937, NARL has evolved in mandate and structure to develop novel agricultural technologies and innovations, and solve agricultural challenges in this country. Our current mandate is to carry out agricultural research of a strategic nature and national importance and offer development services under four key research areas of Food Biosciences and Agribusiness, Bio-systems and Agricultural Engineering, Soils, Environment and Agro meteorology, Biodiversity and Biotechnology.
Technology Generation, Technology Promotion, Research Partnerships and Strengthening Agricultural Research Capacity have made news at NARL and NARO. In this issue we bring you insights of moments when the delegates from FAO and World Bank visited NARO, of citrus farmers in Teso to celebrate their bold steps in increasing production and marketing of citrus with continuous support from KOPIA and NARL. You will also read about how bio-control of invasive species using Listronotuw setosipennis weevils to curb the congress weed is giving hope to farming communities and researchers in Uganda and Pakistan.
I wish you nice reading. Thank you.
The Giant is Awake!
Dr. Robooni Tumuhimbise,
Director of Research National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL)-Kawanda