Support for the Implementation of the Uganda National Biosafety Framework (NBF) within the context of the Cartagena protocol

The overall objectives of this demonstraton project on biosafety is to provide support to strengthen capacity building for the implementation of national biosafety framework in compliance with the obligations of the Cartagena Protocol. Three areas of capacity building needs were identified through the first phase pilot project on biosafety: capacity building in biosafety regulation, scientific capacity building in biosafety, and biosafety enforcement and monitoring capacity building. Specific objectives are as follows: a) set up a regulatory and administrative system to enable an adequate level of protection in the field of the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology, with a specific focus on transboundary movements in Uganda, and meet the obligations foreseen under the Cartagena Protocol; b) strengthen the capacity building on biosafety legislation/operational management, risk assessment/management/ monitoring;c) strengthen national infrastructure for LMOs testing; d) enhance public awareness and promote dissemination among the relevant stakeholders; and e) strengthen the information system.