A new biotechnology laboratory has been opened at University of Rwanda’s Huye campus to help enhance research in agriculture and health.

The laboratory is part of a multidisciplinary biotechnology complex in life sciences.

The Rwf1.7 billion complex, completed in 2013 and inaugurated on Friday, is expected to boost the University of Rwanda’s objective of promoting multidisciplinary research initiatives.

The complex will host researchers from different fields of study, specifically molecular biology, microbiology, toxicology, pharmacology or chemistry and other related fields.

Dr Christian Birame Sekomo, president of Academic and Research Staff Organisation of the University of Rwanda (ARSO−UR), said research to be carried out would help respond to the country’s development priorities.

"If there are problems in agriculture, for instance, cassava diseases, those in botanical biotechnology will sit and establish the genesis of the disease and think of ways to produce cassava varieties that are disease-resistant,” he said.

Sekomo said the new laboratory meets international standards, which is good for the development of research.

The Minister for Education, Dr Papias Malimba Musafiri, urged academia to make use of the biotechnology complex to find solutions to pressing issues.

"I strongly encourage established researchers to take advantage of this complex to address Rwanda and region’s specific problems in agriculture, environment, waste treatment and so on,” he said.

Sekomo said the complex will not only support research, but also inspire young talents.

"The inauguration of the biotechnology complex shows that there is a great connection between research and higher education. Universities should create impact in society in several ways, including inspiring young talented people to pursue their careers in research, science and technology,” Sekomo said.

The Minister for Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, said such a facility would help Rwanda on its development path.

"You can help the health sector by developing drugs. So far, Rwanda has only collaborated with other countries to develop drugs, you should bring this here,” she said.

Dr Binagwaho said the ministry is working on a draft law that would facilitate clinical trials for drugs developed in the country or elsewhere, which she hopes will be completed in two months.

Arnout Pauwels, the Belgian ambassador to Rwanda, said the facility is part of a larger Belgian-sponsored project called "Support to Rwandan Health Infrastructure” at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare in Huye.

"Services to be offered and research to be conducted in this complex will support, most specifically, the field of life sciences, including the Rwandan Health System,” he said.

The UR-ARES programme started in 1998, and has since done various interventions, including enhancing university teaching capacity, the provision of teaching and research laboratories, the provision of ICT laboratories, training and attachments.

Musafiri called for more funding mechanisms to enhance quality of research, especially in life science which, he said, requires advanced equipment and facilities.

He affirmed the Ministry of Education’s support to the facility to ensure it is functioning as expected.

The new biotechnology complex was built and equipped with the support of the Belgian Development Cooperation under the framework of the partnership between the University of Rwanda and the Academy for Research and Higher Education.

The head of the laboratory, Charles Karangwa, said it has been offering services in medical (drug), food, water and toxicology analysis.

Karangwa said some PhD students have been carrying out research at the laboratory, adding that the facility has been making between Rwf500 million and Rwf600 million per year.

Also present at the launch were delegations from Belgium, Burundi, DR Congo and South Africa.

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