RIP: Dr. Kiggundu
Uganda’s homegrown anti-tick vaccine, TicVac-U (also known as NAROVAC), may face uncertainty following the death of one of its key contributors, Dr. Andrew Kiggundu.
The vaccine, developed by the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), is in its final stages of approval and commercialization after successful trials on more than 10,000 cattle, with reported efficacy of between 80 and 95 percent. It is currently awaiting an official presidential launch before rollout to farmers and is expected to significantly reduce reliance on costly and frequent acaricide spraying.
However, Dr. Kiggundu, who served as a consultant on vaccines at NARO, has passed away, raising concerns among experts about the potential impact on the project’s progress.
In a statement issued on April 8, 2026, NARO described Dr. Kiggundu as a distinguished scientist whose contribution to agricultural biotechnology in Uganda and beyond was immense.
“Dr. Kiggundu’s passing is a profound loss to NARO, the scientific community, and the nation at large. We deeply value his knowledge, dedication, and the significant impact he made in advancing agricultural research and innovation,” said NARO Director General Dr. Yona Baguma.
Dr. Kiggundu joined NARO in 1993 as a Research Assistant under the National Banana Research Programme and rose through the ranks to become Head of the National Agricultural Biotechnology Centre. He also served as Programme Leader for the Biodiversity and Biotechnology Programme at the National Agricultural Research Laboratories in Kawanda.
He played a pivotal role in developing key biotechnology and biosafety regulatory frameworks in Uganda and contributed to several international research initiatives, including the Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa (VIRCA) project.
At the time of his death, Dr. Kiggundu was serving as a consultant under NARO’s vaccine programme and leading a national taskforce aimed at transforming the National Agricultural Research Laboratories into a Centre of Excellence.
While NARO has not officially indicated any disruption to the anti-tick vaccine rollout, his death comes at a critical stage of the project, prompting concern among stakeholders about the potential loss of technical expertise and leadership.
Dr. Kiggundu is also remembered for his role in strengthening Uganda’s leadership in biotechnology research, including overseeing a record number of confined field trial applications under the NARO Institutional Biosafety Committee.
He will be remembered not only for his scientific achievements but also for his warm personality and dedication to advancing agricultural innovation.
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