Dr Bonifance Obbo declares bid for UVA Vice Presidency, vows to revamp advocacy and member welfare

What the report says

Dr. Bonifance Obbo, a former general secretary of the Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA), has declared that he will seek the vice presidency of the association at its annual general meeting due next week in Arua City. According to The Independent Uganda, Obbo says he is returning to leadership after a two-year break and aims to support the incoming president while strengthening advocacy and member welfare within the profession.

The report says Obbo served as UVA general secretary from 2021 to 2024 and previously spoke out on issues affecting veterinarians, including staffing shortages and low public-sector pay that he argued was pushing professionals into private practice or work abroad. His proposed return comes as the association prepares for elections covering the 2026 to 2028 term. The presidential race is reported to include Dr. David Nelson Okello and Dr. Joseph Kagoro Ruhinda.

Obbo’s platform, as outlined in the article, focuses on five priorities: improving engagement with members, raising the visibility of the profession, pushing for implementation of the Veterinary Practitioners Act 2024, strengthening the Veterinary Wealth SACCO, and building closer collaboration with animal-industry institutions. The paper says these proposals are meant to help address long-running concerns such as licensing, internships, continuous professional development and the recruitment of substantive district veterinary officers.

The AGM, set for 17 to 20 November 2026, will bring together veterinarians from across Uganda to choose new leaders and discuss the future of the sector.