Jinja, Uganda
February 18-20, 2004

CGIAR hosted a briefing for Ugandan Members of Parliament during February 18-20, 2004, in Jinja, Uganda. The meeting was inaugurated by Rt. Hon. Edward Ssekandi, Speaker of Parliament. Prof. Richard Musangi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, WARDA-The Africa Rice Center spoke on behalf of CGIAR. Researchers from CIP, CIAT, ICRAF, IFPRI, IITA, ILRI, IPGRI, and WARDA delivered presentations. Hon. Wilberforce Kisamba-Mugerwa, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries presented closing remarks. Parliamentarians voiced their support for mobilizing public goods research for national development and called for strengthening CGIAR's collaborative links with Uganda. IFPRI took the lead in organizing the meeting for CGIAR Marketing Group.

 

Participants at the inaugural session (left to right): Minister Grace Akello; Minister Fabios Byaruhanga; Rt. Hon. Edward Ssekandi, Speaker of Ugandan Parliament; Prof. Richard Musangi, Chair, WARDA Board of Trustees; Oliver Wonekha, MP, and John Odit, MP. The Speaker's message: "With the knowledge acquired from this workshop, Members of Parliament will be greatly empowered to mobilize the population in their respective constituencies to ensure food and nutrition security."

Mrs. Joweria Ssekiyanja, a farmer from Luwero, addresses Members of Parliament about how sweetpotatoes helped increase her income, family health, and allowed her to educate and clothe her children.

Professor Richard S. Musangi, Chairman of the Board, WARDA-The Africa Rice Center represented CGIAR and presented an opening address.

Hon. Wilberforce Kisamba-Mugerwa, Ugandan Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries addressing Parliamentarians.