Prof. Robert Byamukama from the Department of Chemistry is the new Executive Secretary of the Natural Products Research Network for East and Central Africa (NAPRECA). He will serve in the position for 4years. Prof. Byamukama was elected to the position at the NAPRECA18th Board Meeting held in Cairo, Egypt from the 1st – 2nd September 2018.
About NAPRECA: NAPRECA was conceived by East and Central African scientists who attended the 14th International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products in 1984 in Poland. Its establishment was borne from the realization that Africa was rich in biodiversity, but poor in research and development in natural products. The main objective of NAPRECA is to initiate, develop and promote research in the area of natural products in the countries in Central and Eastern Africa sub-region and to coordinate and maintain inter- and intraregional links among different research groups. NAPRECA member countries include: Botswana, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The activities of the Network include biannual Natural Products Symposia and workshops designed to expose young scientists in the natural products research area to the state-of-the-art techniques and to maintain vitality in the Network’s activities in the various member countries.
NAPRECA receives financial support from the International Programme in the Chemical Sciences (IPICS) of Uppsala University’s International Science Programme (ISP), and receive scholarships for students to undertake postgraduate degree programmes in the universities belonging to this Network from The International Educational Exchange Programme (DAAD) of Germany. The NAPRECA headquarters is located in the country of residence of the Executive Secretary and the Assistant Secretary/Treasurer for the duration of their term of office.