NARO director general dies in Nairobi

NARO Director General, Dr Emily Kabushenga Twinamasiko.

Kampala

A dark cloud has Monday cast the National Agricultural Research Organisation, following the demise of its Director General, Dr Emily Kabushenga Twinamasiko.

The Acting Director General NARO, Dr Ambrose Agona, confirmed the passing of Dr Twinamasiko. “Its true Dr Twinamasiko passed on this morning at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi where she was transferred last Friday from International Hospital Kampala (IHK) for further examination,” Dr Agona said.

According to Dr Agona, Dr Twinamasiko had complained of problems with her gallbladder which led to her admission to IHK in Namuwongo before her transfer to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi-Kenya. NARO spokesperson Robert Anguzo said, Dr Twinamasiko stopped working on December 24 last year and was expected to report back in office on January 15.

About Dr Twinamasiko

The late Twinamasiko assumed office in early 2011 after a six-month search for the replacement of a vacant post following the departure of Dr Denis Kyetere who joined the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Dr Twinamasiko became the fourth and the first female director general in the history of NARO, since it was established by an Act of Parliament in 1992. With an over decade experience in the field of research management and administration, Dr Twinamasiko worked at the Livestock Health Research Institute in Tororo, where she was programme leader for livestock disease re-search.

Her research work focused on infectious diseases of farm animals. She also worked as Centre manager at Mbarara Agricultural Research and Development Centre, and later as Acting Deputy Director General of Outreach, Director Research Coordination and Acting Director General at NARO Secretariat Entebbe.

Dr Twinamasiko held a PhD in Livestock Economics and Planning from the University of Reading in United Kingdom, Masters of Science in Tropical Veterinary Science from University of Edinburg, and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from the University of Nairobi. She has been an accomplished writer with publications in technical journals and books, as well as conference papers to her name.

Besides her busy schedules, she has also been a board member of several organisations—both locally and internationally, including National Agricultural Advisory Services, Uganda Coffee Development Authority, and Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project.