I attended the colourful Uganda Virus Research Institute at 90 function held at their expansive green-fields in Entebbe. It was a remarkable event in all ways.
For ninety years, the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) has quietly built one of Africa's greatest scientific success stories.
While roads, bridges and buildings often dominate discussions about national development, institutions like UVRI remind us that a nation's greatest wealth also lies in its knowledge, innovation and human capital. As UVRI celebrates its 90th anniversary, Uganda has every reason to be proud of an institution whose scientific discoveries have protected millions of lives, shaped global health policy and earned the country international respect.
Founded in 1936 as the Yellow Fever Research Institute, UVRI has evolved into a world-renowned centre for research on infectious diseases. From yellow fever to HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Marburg, COVID-19 and other emerging viral infections, the institute has consistently been at the forefront of scientific discovery. Its contribution cannot be measured only in research papers or laboratory breakthroughs. It is measured in outbreaks detected early, epidemics contained, lives saved and policies informed by credible scientific evidence.
Uganda has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to respond swiftly to dangerous disease outbreaks. That success has not happened by chance. Behind every rapid diagnosis, every laboratory confirmation and every surveillance report is a team of highly trained scientists working tirelessly at UVRI.
When Ebola threatened communities, UVRI laboratories provided critical diagnostic support. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the institute became one of the country's scientific pillars, conducting testing, genomic sequencing and research that helped guide national decision-making. These achievements reinforced Uganda's reputation as one of Africa's strongest performers in infectious disease surveillance and response.
The institute's contribution extends far beyond Uganda's borders. Scientific discoveries made at UVRI have informed global understanding of viral diseases and influenced international public health strategies.
Researchers from around the world continue to collaborate with Ugandan scientists because they recognize the institute's expertise and the unique value of its research. Perhaps UVRI's greatest achievement is not found inside its laboratories but in the people it has nurtured.
Over nine decades, the institute has trained generations of Ugandan scientists who now serve in universities, hospitals, research centres, government ministries and international organisations. Many have become leading experts in virology, epidemiology and public health, carrying Uganda's scientific reputation across the globe. This investment in human capital is invaluable. Scientific excellence cannot be imported overnight.
It is built patiently through mentorship, research and continuous learning. UVRI has become one of Uganda's finest schools of scientific leadership. As the world confronts new and evolving health threats, the importance of institutions like UVRI will only continue to grow. Climate change, population growth, urbanisation and increased interaction between humans and wildlife are creating conditions that favour the emergence of new infectious diseases.
Viruses know no borders, and no country can afford complacency. This makes sustained investment in scientific research a matter of national security as much as public health. Strong laboratories, modern diagnostic technology, disease surveillance systems and well-trained researchers are essential to protecting lives and safeguarding economic progress. Uganda has already shown what scientific preparedness can achieve.
The country's ability to contain multiple Ebola outbreaks and strengthen disease surveillance has earned praise from international health agencies. Such achievements are rooted in decades of investment in institutions like UVRI.
As the institute marks this important milestone, government, development partners and the private sector should renew their commitment to supporting scientific research. Investment in modern laboratories, advanced genomic technologies, artificial intelligence for disease surveillance and young researchers will ensure that UVRI remains globally competitive.
The anniversary should also inspire more young Ugandans to pursue careers in science. The next breakthrough vaccine, diagnostic tool or public health innovation could come from a Ugandan scientist working in a UVRI laboratory. The country must continue creating opportunities that allow talented young researchers to flourish at home.
Scientific institutions rarely make headlines unless there is a crisis. Yet their quiet, consistent work forms the backbone of national resilience. UVRI has spent ninety years preparing Uganda for challenges many citizens never see because outbreaks are contained before they spread widely. That is precisely what successful science looks like—preventing disasters before they happen.
As Uganda celebrates UVRI's remarkable journey, we should not only honour its distinguished past but also strengthen its future. The institute has earned its place among Africa's premier research centres through excellence, professionalism and unwavering dedication to improving human health. Ninety years of discovery have shown what Ugandan scientists can achieve when given the opportunity.
The challenge now is to ensure that the next ninety years produce even greater breakthroughs. For in celebrating UVRI at 90, we are celebrating more than an institution.
We are celebrating Uganda's capacity to innovate, to lead in global health research and to contribute solutions to some of humanity's greatest challenges. That is a legacy worthy of national pride—and one that deserves every investment in the years ahead.
The Writer is Deputy Executive Director – Uganda Media Centre
@Dennis_Katungi