Dr. Halid Kirunda named first chairperson of Uganda Veterinary Council
Appointment marks major step in enforcing the Veterinary Practitioners Act, 2024.
The Uganda Veterinary Council (UVC) has appointed Dr. Halid Kirunda as its first-ever Chairperson, marking a historic milestone in the rollout of the Veterinary Practitioners Act, 2024. His leadership is expected to strengthen regulation of veterinary training, ethics, and professional practice nationwide.
Dr. Kirunda, a veteran veterinary epidemiologist and research leader, brings more than 32 years of public service to the role. He currently serves as Chairman of the Uganda Red Cross Central Governing Board, where he has been credited with improving governance and community resilience since 2019.
His career began in Iganga District in the early 1990s before progressing through the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), where he rose to Director of Research and later headed the Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (ZARDI) until retirement. Under his leadership, Mbarara ZARDI became host to NARO’s National Dairy Centre of Excellence and contributed to innovations including anti-tick vaccine research and biosafety reforms.
Academically, Dr. Kirunda holds a PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology/Public Health, a Master of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, and a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from Makerere University. He has also spent over 15 years lecturing at leading universities and serving on national scientific and animal research committees.
The UVC says his mandate will focus on building a strong, ethical, and accountable veterinary profession, enhancing animal health systems, and safeguarding public health as Uganda implements new regulatory standards.
