Government has moved to reform and modernize Uganda’s veterinary sector with the launch of an online database platform aimed at improving animal health, public health and trade in animal products.
The online system is designed to improve regulation, licensing and monitor veterinary practitioners across the country.
State Minister for Animal Industry Mr Bright Rwamirama called it a milestone for professionalism and accountability.
‘It reflects Uganda’s commitment to strengthening professional regulations, improving public service and delivery, modernizing government systems and enhancing public trust in veterinary services. We have been having challenges in trade in animal products and this is one of the ways we are going to achieve,’ Mr Rwamirama said.
The Uganda Veterinary Council was established under the Veterinary Practitioners Act 2024, which gave it a broader mandate for professional regulation.
Supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the platform will maintain an updated national database of licensed practitioners and establishments, improve verification of professionals, and support inspection and compliance monitoring.
Mr Rwamirama said farmers can now use the system to confirm if a vet is registered and licensed, a move expected to weed out quacks.
‘I have seen people calling themselves doctors or veterinarians, riding in the bushes on motorcycles and treating animals with no competence at all. And this has escalated the problem of microbial resistance,’ he said.
He stressed the sector’s role in national development: ‘Veterinary professionals occupy a uniquely important place in Uganda’s national development agenda. They are indispensable to livestock production, animal health, welfare, veterinary and public health, food safety, trade and livelihood of millions of Ugandan households. The profession is central to our agricultural transformation agenda, public health, security and Uganda’s participation in regional and international trade in livestock and animal products.’
Government is also finalizing plans to establish a Veterinary and Food Authority to consolidate oversight of animal health, food safety and veterinary public health. Mr Rwamirama noted that more than 75 per cent of human diseases are of animal origin, making the One Health approach critical for trade and consumer confidence.
‘If we are to trade and reassure consumers that our standards and practitioners are very conscious of this, then we shall reach instant markets and improve our international trade in animal and animal products,’ he said.
Dr Caroline Asiimwe, chairperson of the UVC digital systems and data governance committee, said the platform ends the era of manual records and fragmented systems.
‘Technological platform marks the beginning of a new era in the regulation and coordination, the transparency and the modernisation of the veterinary practice in Uganda,’ she said.
The system will also improve communication between the council and practitioners while giving the public access to verified professional information.
UVC Chairperson Dr Halid Kirunda said the expanded mandate under the 2024 Act requires a modern, data-driven regulatory system.
‘This marks the operationalisation of the Veterinary Practitioners Act 2024. It is strongly believed that it will help to strengthen the oversight of the UVC, improve compliance, and support Uganda’s broad animal health and veterinary public health and food safety systems,’ Dr Kirunda said.
FAO Uganda Country Representative Mr Ezana Kassa said strengthening veterinary governance is critical for public health, food systems and resilient agriculture.
‘This system will enhance registration, licensing, renewals and the tracking of continuous professional development for veterinary professionals to support the efficient management of well over 4,600 registered professionals across the country while improving efficiency, transparency, accountability and access to regulatory services,’ he said.