Directory/Inventory on Bioethical and Biotechnological Activities in Uganda

Abstract

In Uganda, bioethics and human rights activities have been going on long even before the convention; however there hasn't been an inventory and directory to provide information on the various activities that are being done, in which organizations and who is involved. As part of the General Conference of UNESCO, the government of Uganda in collaboration with UNESCO is mandated to operationalize the convention by putting in place a policy and guidelines to ensure that Uganda builds up an inventory for all stakeholders involved in bio ethics and biotechnological capabilities, setting biotechnology priorities, and those involved in the private sector within biotechnology research and development. To that effect, the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO contracted Eclipse Consultancy Firm to undertake an assignment to preparing an inventory/directory for all stakeholders involved in bioethics and biotechnology. This inventory has provided the first steps in taking stock of the various stakeholders that have been involved in bioethical and bio- technological research in Uganda. It comes in with a major aim of strengthening awareness of government authorities, legislators, educators, students, medical professional and other service providers about the ethics of science and technology; with a particular focus on raising awareness on bioethics. The main objectives for the inventory/directory are to a) provide users with information to identify the existing bioethics and biotechnology activities in Uganda and b) provide information on the number of organizations and individuals involved in bioethics and biotechnology research in Uganda. Development of this inventory employed qualitative methods of data collection, mainly involving document review on programme reports, research reports, journals, newspaper articles and publications on bioethics and biotechnology within Uganda and data collection obtained through physical visits to institutions or through the use of other communication strategies such as the telephone and electronic mail. Sources of data collection included government departments, civil society organizations, research institutions, universities district levels and at individual levels mainly focusing on the significant work or contributions in bioethics and biotechnology that Institutions and individuals so far have done. The data so far collected for the inventory shows 34 institutions and about 50 individuals involved in a number of activities in bioethics and biotechnology in Uganda. These include the development of national policies mainly spearheaded by the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology in partnership with the relevant institutions involved in Health Biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology, industrial biotechnology and environmental biotechnology. Policies documents include the Uganda National Agricultural Research Policy (2003). The National Guidelines for Research involving Humans as Research Participants (2007). The National Biotechnology and Bio-safety Policy (2007) to mention but a few guided by several committees. In addition, there are several individuals who have contributed who work has been added to the inventory. An electronic based version database has also been developed to ensure that the inventory is continuously updated through the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO. It captures a number of fields about the key contributing institutions ranging from the work done, contact addresses and to contact persons where applicable. It is hoped that this inventory will help a great deal strengthening linkages, networking and for documenting and sharing best practices in regard to the uniqueness of biotechnology in modern agriculture, medicine, industry, the use of bio-resources, and environmental management.