DR. DANIEL KIWANUKA SEMAMBO (PhD) PASSES ON.

 DR. DANIEL KIWANUKA SEMAMBO (PhD) WHO I KNEW LOVED HIS ALMA MATER - St. MARY’S COLLEGE, KISUBI.

I had the opportunity of meeting Dr. Daniel Kiwanuka Semambo when he was a student at St. Mary’s College, Kisubi where he was for his O ‘ level. He was inspiring given his Sporting skills more so in lawn tennis. His skill at music was also inspiring.

Later, I met Dr. Daniel Semambo when he was the Executive Director - NAGRIC at Entebbe. By that time, I was doing some writing about St. Mary’s College, Kisubi. He inspired me to write and also attend functions at the school.

I remember one morning I called on him during the time when NAGRIC was publicizing Kuroiler birds. I met him when he was about to travel to Gulu to reach out to farmers about the management of the birds given that they had just been introduced. After a cup of Coffee he said that we travel together. I had taken a CD with my work on SMACK 100 History. He pulled out shs 60,000 and gave it to me. He then said that if I had no other business in Entebbe, we should travel together. 

He added color to SMACK 100 when he was in a small group that sang during the function.

I remember when the Late Brother Kafeero celebrated his Golden Jubilee as a Brother, he made it and we had quality time at SMACK.

During the Requiem Mass of Brother Kyemwa, Dr. Semambo talked on behalf of SMACKOBA. He said, “The roles Brother Kyemwa played at St. Mary’s College, Kisubi helped turn around the school hence boosting academic excellence”.

When Dr. Simon Kagugube passed on, he requested me to write an article about the fallen giant.

Dr. Semambo was requested to talk on behalf of the Old Boys of SMACK during the Mass for Sebastian Nsubuga. He was positive and played the role excellently.

I recall the time he told me that he wanted to give a hand to the Cattle management at the school. This is not an easy role. He has done his best in promoting the Cattle and Poultry enterprises. His role in marketing eggs during COVID lockdown cannot be forgotten. He did well and a number of OBs can testify to that.

He was part of the Project Implementing Committee of the HSC Block a role he played with all the commitment.

Given his love for the School he joined in the Executive of SMACKOBA.

His death has come at a time when his input was still much needed by St. Mary’s College, Kisubi Community.

There was a time when Dr. Semambo used to go to CBS FM and would teach proper management and improvement of Cattle. He talked about making hay, etc

Below is what I got from his talk on CBS about Kuroilers.

DR. DANIEL KIWANUKA SEMAMBO SAYS, INDIAN SUPER CHICKEN TO LIFT UGANDAN FARMERS OUT OF POVERTY.

It is great listening to Dr. Daniel Kiwanuka Semambo (PhD), the director National Animal Genetic Resources Center and Data Bank (NAGRC & DB) on radio more so CBS 88.8FM very early shortly after 7.00am on Sunday talking about what his department has on offer to the people of Uganda. 

A chicken that has the capacity to lay up to 150 eggs per year could be the next wonder for farmers in Uganda, thanks to an initiative by India. The scientifically engineered Kuroiler is a mix of a cockerel and broiler chicken. The bird is a colored and thrives on scavenging and has a high meat weight and egg producing capability. 

Dr. Daniel Kiwanuka Semambo, the director National Animal Genetic Resources Center and Data Bank (NAGRC & DB), says the chicken can lay up to 150 eggs in a year compared to the local chicken in Uganda. He says the chicken also grows faster than the local one. 

Dr. Semambo says the project will be implemented in phases. The team from India together with NAGRC will study the sustainability of the project in 8 months. 500million shillings will be the cost of implementing the second phase of the poultry project. 

According to Semambo the poultry will be distributed to farmers. Dr. Semambo says the hatcheries are ready to receive the eggs. 

According to Dr. Paul Nampala, the Executive Secretary Uganda National Academy of Sciences, genetically bred animals are safer than naturally bred ones. He says genetic breeding involves a much thorough process of checking as opposed to natural breeding where nature takes it course under no supervision. Dr. Nampala however warns that the Kuroiler bird may face challenges of not being readily accepted by farmers in Uganda. Weather patterns are also important to consider during the trials in the country. 

Kuroiler is a custom bred chicken for small-scale farmers. The birds do not need special feeding according to Semambo. Kuroiler was introduced in India in 1993 by a private company and sold more than a million one-day old chicks in the first year alone. By 2005-06 the number reached 14 million. The project in India was an innovation by Nimrod Kapur who tinkered around with imported stock from the US to create high yield birds through a process called genetic breeding.