By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer
The Science, Technology & Innovation Secretariat at the Office of the President (STI-OP) has provided additional sh400 million to boost the Lira University’s “Herbal Extract Larvicide for Malaria Control and Prevention” project.
A letter addressed to Mr. Icel Solomon, the Principal Investigator, also a staff at the Community Health department, Lira University, on 29th April 2025, the award was under the National Research and Innovation Programme Call.
According to Mr Cosmas Mwikirize, the Superintendent Industrial Value Chains Development at STI-OP, the author of the letter, the selection of the Grantees has been highly competitive and the process attracted many applicants.
Lira University has developed an organic larvicide that is both highly effective and environmentally friendly. Backed by an initial grant of UGX 300 million, the larvicide has demonstrated 100% efficacy against Culex, Anopheles, and Aedes aegypti mosquito species, along with 95% residual effectiveness.
Mr. Icel notes that the project teams are developing other herbal medicine targeting the treatment of haemorrhoid, skin infections, sickle cell, pressure, diabetes, arthritis, epilepsy and UTI.
He reveals that the funding enabled the project to procure essential production equipment, employ 7 staff members on a contractual basis, and engage over 15 individuals on casual appointment. It also facilitated scientific validations such as toxicity studies, phytochemical analysis, larvicidal activity testing, product formulation, and official registration with the relevant authorities.
The initiative, Icel says, has contributed significantly to skills development through internship programs involving students from Lira District Local Government and Lira City Council. Additionally, stakeholder engagements have been conducted ahead of a pilot rollout in Apac District Local Government.
He adds that the additional financial support will facilitate the establishment of a small-scale production facility at Lira University and enable the large-scale manufacture of the larvicide for mass field validation in the Lango sub-region and Eastern Uganda, areas with particularly high mosquito density.
This next phase is expected to create further employment opportunities — including farmers who will cultivate raw materials, village health teams involved in larvicidal application, and students participating in practical learning programs from various universities.
Mr. Icel, expressed his sincere appreciation to the Government of Uganda, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Lira University, and the project team for their ongoing support. He highlighted the importance of this innovation as a sustainable and eco-safe solution to malaria prevention and control.
