NaRL
Who We Are
NARL was established in 1934 and officially began undertaking agricultural research in 1937 on coffee, tea, cotton and native crops. Over the 86 years of its operation, the institute has undergone numerous changes to suit the political, social and economic environment of the country. The current structure of NARL is a result of the NAR Act, 2005 that designates the institute as one of NARIs with a mandate to carry out agricultural research of a strategic nature and national importance. Under the new mandate, NARL carries out strategic research on five areas: bananas; food biosciences and agribusiness; biosystems and agricultural engineering; soils, environment and agrometeorology; and biodiversity and biotechnology.
Throughout its journey the institution has evolved in mandate and structure to develop novel agricultural technologies and innovations, and solve agricultural challenges of the times
Our Mission
Our Vision
Our Mandate
NARL News
The NARL e-Bulletin Sept 2024
Banana Products Survey
Our Research Journey
The research mandate of NARL focuses on five programs which are National Banana Research Program, Soils environment and agro-meteorology Program, Food Biosciences and Agribusiness, Bio-systems and Agricultural Engineering Program and Biodiversity and Biotechnology Program.
Banana research is undertaken by the National Banana Research Program whose mandate is to generate and promote improved banana varieties and practices that enhance banana productivity and utilization.
The soils, environment and agro-meteorology program mandate is to generate and promote tools, recommendations and technologies for improved soil and water management, sustainable land use and resilience to climate change.
The Food Biosciences and Agribusiness program (FBA) seeks to generate technologies and innovations that reduce post-harvest losses and promote value-addition, food safety, nutrition and market access.
The mandate of this programme is to develop and promote bio-systems and agricultural engineering technologies that address constraints in production, processing and utilization of crops, livestock, fisheries and forest products in Uganda.
The mandate of this programme is to facilitate genetic resources conservation, generate integrated pest management and agricultural biotechnology applications. Plant genetic resources are important assets in Uganda’s quest for poverty eradication, food security, wealth creation, medical and industrial advancement.
Governance
Also hosted at NARL are other services offered by government institutions such as the national seed testing laboratory, Sericulture laboratory, Weather Station, International Research Institutes including Korean Project on International Agriculture (KOPIA), International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), USAID Feed the Future management unit and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Food Biosciences and Agribusiness Program
Products & Services
Products Exhibited
Achievements & Milestones
Our Research Journey
Currently, NARL is one of the sixteen (16) Public Agricultural Research Institutes (PARIs) spread across the country established under the NAR Act, 2005 that form NARO. Under the Act, PARIs fall in two categories; National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs), and Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institutes (ZARDIs). The Act mandates NARIs to manage and carry out agricultural research of a strategic nature and of national importance while ZARDIs are required to manage and carry out agricultural research whether applied or adaptive for a specific agro-ecological zone. In the conduct of their research activities, NARIs cover all aspects of agriculture including crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry, agro-machinery, natural resources and socio-economics.
Soil sampling in the laboratories in Kawanda
NARL works closely with other PARIs, and other stakeholders in the National Agricultural Research System including Universities, International Agricultural Research Organizations, Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations, and the private sector. NARL is mandated to provide research and development services in the following areas:
Partnerships & Collaborations
Bill & Belinda Gates foundation, IITA, Bio Diversity International, TARI, Makerere University,
USAID, CABI to spur innovation in Agriculture
Volunteer & Internships
Application Procedure for Volunteers and Internships
Volunteers: Interested persons are advised to write and deliver applications to NaRL on weekdays.
Internships: NaRL runs one internship program annually. Students are advised to deliver applications and university recommendations to the Institute on weekdays.
Contacts
Contact Information
- National Agricultural Research Laboratories - NaRL
- +256 414 661977
- director.narl@naro.go.ug
- Located at Kawanda 10 km on Kampala-Bombo Road after Maganjo trading center before Matuga trading center
- P.O Box 185, Mukono