Abstract:

The President of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, started this process in February 2003 when he
set up the AYUME Committee to determine Uganda’s position on GM foods. Later in 2003, the President
commissioned the National Biotechnology Laboratory at Kawanda in 2003. Thereafter the Government of
Uganda started supporting biotechnology research and development of the policy and legal environment.
In the last 15 years, the Government has committed more than 20 billion Uganda Shillings toward building
human and infrastructural capacity to use modern biotechnology. In 2008, the President opened the fi rst
private biotechnology laboratory, Agro-Genetic Technologies (AGT).
The Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy was approved by Cabinet in 2008 from which an implementing law
was drafted and tabled in Parliament in February 2013. Consultations have been conducted by Parliament
with all key stakeholders and a comprehensive report tabled in November 2013. In addition, a lot of
sensitization has been done by different stakeholders focusing on MPS, farmers, religious leaders, media
actors, women leaders, and the youth. Consensus from the consultations is that this law is necessary NOW.
During the last World Food Day celebrations on 16th October 2015, at Kyembogo in Kabarole district, the
President urged lawmakers to support passage of this important law to facilitate the work of our scientists to
solve the challenges faced by our farmers.