Abstract:

After the successful and fruitful completion of my engagement as Director, National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) covering a period from July 2007 to August 2015, I was appointed as the pioneer Coordinator, National Invasive Coordination Unit (NISCU) under the Directorate of Research Coordination, NAROSEC but based at NaCRRI, Namulonge. These two assignments of Directorship and Coordinatorship followed my equally eventful service as a Scientist when I was first recruited as a Senior Research Officer, Entomologist by the then newly formed research organization – the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) in 1992. In all my NARO engagements both as a scientist and an administrator, I left a trail of achievements that have had permanent impacts both in Uganda, region and indeed the world. By nature of my last assignment as NISCU Coordinator however, I initiated and made NISCU a functional unit to coordinate all aspects of research and management of invasive species in Uganda. Besides, at NISCU I was charged with harnessing funding to achieve the objective of control and management of all invasive species in collaboration with other relevant NARO institutes, ministries and departments a task I executed diligently. I also participated in designing and recruiting specialized staff, which enabled the successful functioning of NISCU.