The Central Laboratory and Animal Research Facility (CLARF) today delivered a consignment of Specific Pathogen‑Free (SPF) laboratory rats to the Senior Six Biology students of Nabisunsa Girls’ School — another step in its drive to make practical biosciences both accessible and safe for secondary‑school learners.
The supply falls under CLARF’s School Biosciences Support Program, an initiative designed to put quality, health‑screened research animals into the hands of students while safeguarding their wellbeing. The rats are bred and maintained at CLARF, COVAB, Makerere University, and are certified pathogen‑free — screened against disease and safe for classroom use.
Safety built into every delivery
Each consignment arrives with more than the animals themselves. A curriculum‑aligned guide and a handling and safety training component accompany every delivery, so that students and teachers are equipped to work with the rats responsibly and with confidence. Veterinary health records and a documented pathogen‑free status travel with the colony, giving schools a clear chain of assurance.
Safe. Screened. School‑ready.
The principle at the heart of the program
For the students, it means hands‑on laboratory experience — observation, dissection practice, and the practical skills the national Biology syllabus demands — without exposure to the health risks that uncontrolled animal sources can carry.
A partnership for science education
The initiative is delivered with the support of the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat — Office of the President (STI‑OP) and Makerere University, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening science education and building a pipeline of young, practically skilled scientists across Uganda.
