Abstract:

National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) is an apex body of the National
Agricultural Research System (NARS) that brings all agricultural research players together
to conduct research that contributes to economic growth and national development. This
is done through generation and dissemination of appropriate technologies that are client
oriented, demand driven and market responsive.
Entebbe Botanic Gardens is the first agricultural research unit in Uganda. It started in 1898
as a centre for evaluation of crops that could be grown for export and food security in the
Ugandan protectorate. It covers 40 hectares of gently undulating hills, stunning flat views
of picnicking, biodiversity, rich wetlands and 1.5 km Lake Victoria shore line. It is a unit
under National Agricultural Research Laboratories (NARL), which is a public agricultural
research institute under NARO. Botanic Gardens are a source of expertise offering unique
blend of scientific botanic, practical horticulture and conservation science. The gardens
also provide a rich resource for education and leisure.
However concerns have been raised by stakeholders that the botanic gardens are not
being fully utilized. This has prompted other institutions to express interest in taking over
its management for other uses. It is therefore imperative that the gardens are revamped in
order to optimize their use and create public awareness about their importance.
Followingthe NAR PoIicy2003 andtheenactment of NARAct 2005, NARO had to reconstitute
itself into a new institutional set up comprising both public and private agricultural
research service providers. Consequently, NARO had to develop a- 10 Year Strategic Plan
(2009 -
2018) to chart a way forward in undertaking its research, with a vision to realize
a market- responsive, client- oriented and demand driven national agricultural research
system. In doing so, NARO also adopted a new logo to depict its new configuration. There
is therefore need to launch the Strategic Plan and popularize the new logo so as to create
awareness about the current NARS and the direction NARO is taking.
The promotion of botanical gardens will be undertaken concurrently with the launch of
NARO Strategic Plan and unveiling of new NARO logo on 5 August 2010 at Entebbe.