I, Dr. Jolly Kabirizi started working at Namulonge Research Institute as Scientific Officer/Pasture agronomy on 1st April 1975 after completing a BSc degree (Upper Second class degree) in Agriculture at Makerere University. I was among the best 4 students out of 108 students and the best female student. I obtained an MSc degree in agriculture in 1996. The title of the MSc Thesis is “Productivity and feeding value of Lablab purpureus cv Rongai for lactating dairy cows”. The study covered aspects of agronomy, nutrition and economic analysis. I was appointed a Research Officer 11 in 1997. In 2006 I was promoted to Senior Research Officer.
In 2006 I graduated with a PhD degree (Animal Science). The title of my PhD Thesis is “Effect of incorporating forage legumes in smallholder dairy cattle farming systems on feed availability and animal performance”. The broad objective of the study was to investigate on-farm intercropping of forage legumes with elephant grass or cereal crops on grain yield and fodder production.
The study also evaluated profitability, feed utilization and response of smallholder crossbred dairy cows fed forages originating from maize or elephant grass/forage legume intercropping systems with on-farm generated protein and energy supplements.
This was aparticipatory study conducted in Masaka district. I was able to complete my PhD study in a record period of 2 years 10 months. (During the period 1975 to 2007)
I have diligently served the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and popularised NARO and NaLIRRI technologies and activities. I have made a number of achievements for the Animal Nutrition Project under NaLIRRI. Many of my achievements have been outlined in my publications and research projects (attached). I have presented over 60 scientific papers and technical reports and published over 30 scientific papers in referred journals and workshop proceedings. I have won 3 awards for “the best presenter (oral and poster presentation)” in international and national scientific conferences and 2 award for the best cased studies (copies of the awards are attached). My contribution towards poverty alleviation in resource poor households particularly the women is documented in her PhD Thesis, scientific papers, technical reports and local and international newspapers.
I have been a team leader of 8 multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional regional and national projects where I have been collaborating with various local and international institutions such as: Kenya Agricultural Research Institute; the University of Aarhus, Denmark;; Buganda Cultural and Development Fund; FARM Africa; Makerere University; District Agricultural Training and Information Centres (DATIC); International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa; Sokoine University, Tanzania; Nairobi University etc.
I have successfully supervised 4 MSc and 5 undergraduate students. I am one of the 10 women agricultural research scientists from East and Central Africa who won a fellowship from Gender and Diversity Programme in 2006, a programme funded by Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Program. Its aim is to enhance scientific and leadership skills among women in East Africa. She has attended a number of leadership courses (certificates are attached).
I am one of the top women agricultural development expert and a highly skilled forage and animal nutrition scientist expert in Uganda. I have always had a desire to solve the farmers’ problems with their involvement and participation. The impact I have made in resource poor and HIV/AIDS affected households in the districts of Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Soroti, Mbale, Wakiso, Kabalore; Mukono, Mpigi etc is well documented in scientific papers, national and international reports on dairy production; local and international articles such as http://people.africadatabase.org/en/person/18025.html;http://www.asareca… 20projects.
htm;www.genderdiversity.cgiar.org/resource/ProfilesRound2;http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/243693/;http://ruforumsecr…http://knowledge.cta.int/en/Dossiers/CTA-and-S-T/ACP-women-and-S-T/Women-in science-competition
I have disseminated technologies to over 1,000,000 farmers. My small farm at Seguku, Makindye sub-county, Wakiso district is demonstration farm for the landless livestock farmers. The farm receives at least 20 farmers every month (records are available). I have donated 6 improved heifers, 20 local chicken, 10 improved goats, 8 pigs and 7 bull calves to resource poor farmers to improve household income, nutrition and welfare (records of the beneficiaries are available).
National Livestock Resources Research Institute, Uganda.
Designation: Senior Research Officer
Duties: Research and dissemination of forage and dairy cattle production related technologies
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Associate Graduate Fellow Write PhD Thesis.
NARO: Research Officer
Duties: Conduct research and disseminate pasture and animal nutrition related technologies
NARO: Research Assistant
Duties: Research and dissemination of pasture and animal nutrition related technologies
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (Livestock Services Project World Bank), Uganda.
Regional Animal Production Officer Supervise and advise farmers and extension staff on pasture seed production activities in Central Region of Uganda
Agricultural Extension Project, Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the World Bank, Uganda. Consultant on Pasture agronomy and pasture seed production
Train dairy farmers and extension staff on pasture and dairy cattle related subjects and supervise all pasture seed production activities in Uganda
President’s Office, Uganda
Assistant to the Presidential Advisor on agricultural matters
Duties: Compile information on agriculture activities in Uganda
UNDP/FAO/WFP Uganda Government Project 088/22
Project Coordinator, Pasture seed production project
Duties: Coordinate pasture seed production project activities in Uganda and consultant/Training Officer
Heifer Project for Women farmers in Mpigi district, Uganda: Training Officer
Advising extension staff and farmers on pasture and dairy cattle management
Livestock specialist FARMCO, Kampala
Duties: Advising the organization on livestock matters and training and monitoring livestock related activities.
Namulonge Research Station, Uganda.
Scientific officer/Pasture Agronomy
Duties: Research in Pasture Agronomy and Training dairy farmers and extension staff in Pasture and fodder tree management and utilization
Dr. Kabirizi has received awards, prizes and/or gifts in recognition of her contribution to enhancing the livelihoods of the rural communities.
• A certificate for the best National Agricultural Research Organiza
tion (NARO) scientist performer, April 2012.
• A certificate for the best pasture scientist in Uganda (Uganda Na
tional Farmers Federation, (2013)
• Best National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) scien
tist who contributed to NARO objectives (December 2013
• A cash award and certificate of merit for being one of the top 5
winners of the 2014 “All Africa Young Professionals and Women
in Science Competition Finals held at Ghion Hotel, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia (2014).
• A certificate from The Vision Group and The Netherlands Embassy,
Uganda for outstanding contribution to the farming community in
Uganda (2014).
• Best National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and
Makerere University scientist in disseminating agricultural research
technologies (2006-2016), (November 2016)
• 2017 International Women Day Golden Jubilee Medal in recogni
tion of my contribution to enhancing the livelihoods of the rural
community (March 2017)
• A heifer from Mr. Carlos Pambala, a young farmer in Nakasongola
• Ushs 1,000,000 from Ms. Aisha Kigongo, a young farmer in Gomba
district
• Ten (10) Farmer manuals;
• One hundred and five (105) scientific papers published in referred
journals and/or workshop proceedings;
• 40 farmer leaflets on pasture establishment, management and utili
zation and dairy cattle nutrition;
• 65 Newspaper articles in The Daily Monitor, The New Vision and
Bukedde papers and;
• 8 dairy farmer books.
Production of these books/manuals was supported by the World Bank,
International Potato Center, Danish International Development Agency;
Government of Uganda, National Agricultural Research Organization and
family members. The books and manuals have helped farmers to improve
dairy cattle nutrition