Arua, Uganda | ENTEBBENEWS.NET | Dr. Bonifance Obbo, former General Secretary of the Uganda Veterinary Association, has formally declared his candidacy for the position of Vice President and will present himself to the UVA Annual General Meeting in Arua City next week.
In a declaration that 1 has seen, Obbo said he had accepted calls from fellow veterinarians to return to leadership after a two-year hiatus, citing gaps in the current executive nomination process and a desire to support the incoming president and advocate for the profession.
“I served as General Secretary of UVA from 2021 to 2024 under Dr. Kasibule Daniel as President, and thereafter took a two-year break from UVA leadership,” Obbo stated. “I have received many calls from fellow veterinarians requesting me to return to serve the profession as a member of the Executive.”
The UVA AGM is scheduled for 17th to 20th November 2026 in Arua City, where Obbo will contest for the 2026 to 2028 term. The presidential race itself will pit other veterans of UVA, Dr David Nelson Okello, against Dr Joseph Kagoro Ruhinda.
Obbo’s tenure as General Secretary was marked by consistent advocacy on issues affecting veterinarians and the animal industry. He frequently raised alarm over the shortage of veterinary surgeons in Uganda, warning that low government pay was driving professionals into the private sector or abroad. He has urged the government to align their remuneration with that of human medicine doctors.
His return to the executive, if successful, would place him alongside the incoming president in addressing persistent challenges facing the profession, including the recruitment of substantive District Veterinary Officers and the fight against unregistered practitioners.
The UVA AGM in Arua will bring together veterinarians from across Uganda to elect new leadership and discuss the future of the animal industry
More recently, Obbo has served as District Production Officer for Manafwa District, where he has been vocal about understaffing, disease outbreaks, and the need for increased extension grants. In early 2026, he appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries for additional resources, citing challenges including banana wilt, lumpy skin disease, and declining soil fertility.
Five Priority Areas
Obbo’s manifesto outlines five key areas he intends to pursue if elected.
The first is member engagement, which will involve surveying veterinarians across public and private sectors to identify their challenges and engage stakeholders on solutions.
The second is publicity and visibility, where he plans to leverage social media and mainstream media to raise the profile of the veterinary profession and UVA, working with the newly established Publicity Secretary.
The third is the implementation of the Veterinary Practitioners Act 2024, which will involve engaging MAAIF and the Uganda Veterinary Council on provisions including Continuous Professional Development, mandatory internship, and licensing.
The fourth is the Veterinary Wealth SACCO, where he intends to mobilise veterinarians to join for affordable credit and personal development. Obbo previously championed this initiative as General Secretary, urging members in 2024 to join for affordable credit to grow their businesses.
The fifth is institutional collaboration, which will involve forming a think tank with institutions in the animal industry sector to ensure coordinated engagement.
