KAMPALA, Uganda — The government has launched a digital database platform to improve regulation and eliminate unregistered veterinary practitioners across the country.
Developed by the Uganda Veterinary Council in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, the platform features a centralized national registry and an official council website.
Bright Rwamirama, the state minister for animal industry, officially launched the system, describing it as a major step toward strengthening veterinary governance and public trust.
“This launch is far more than a technological event,” Rwamirama said. “It is a strategic institutional milestone that reflects Uganda’s commitment to strengthening professional regulation and improving public service delivery.”
Rwamirama said robust regulation is necessary to protect animal and human health, noting that veterinary medicine is critical to livestock production, food safety and international trade. He emphasized that more than 75% of human diseases originate in animals, a reality that requires high professional standards to manage effectively.
The initiative follows the enactment of the Veterinary Practitioners Act 2024. The legislation expands state oversight beyond veterinary surgeons to include paraprofessionals, veterinary clinics, educational standards and mandatory continuous professional development.
The minister said the new digital platform will streamline registration, simplify licensing and allow the public to verify practitioners instantly.
“Modern regulation requires digital systems, accurate data, transparency and efficient service delivery,” Rwamirama said, urging professionals nationwide to register and comply with the new standards.
Halid Kirunda, the chairperson of the Uganda Veterinary Council, said the system will significantly reduce the bureaucratic burden on practitioners.
“Traveling long distances to the offices of UVC will be greatly reduced or completely eliminated,” Kirunda said.
Kirunda added that the portal provides a vital security layer for the agricultural sector, allowing farmers, animal owners and employers to verify the credentials of veterinary personnel online before hiring them.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations provided technical and financial support for the project, which was built in collaboration with New Wave Technologies Limited.
