The Uganda Supranational Reference Laboratory (SRL)/ National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) was honoured to receive a distinguished team from Keio University, Japan, on 25 August 2026.

The visiting delegation, led by Professor Ho and his research team, is currently undertaking Multicentre Mtudies across several countries aimed at estimating the burden of Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacteria (NTMs/MOTTs). A group of emerging pathogens increasingly linked to lung disease, particularly in immunocompromised (patients) populations.

Their work involves identifying and characterising clinically significant NTM strains using cutting-edge tools including the Zeesan Mycobacterial Identification Kit and Genomic Sequencing technologies. Previous studies by the Keio team have been successfully conducted in Japan and the Philippines, and Uganda now stands as a key target country for the next phase of this global research effort.

During the visit, discussions focused on the potential to establish a collaborative study in Uganda; a development that would significantly strengthen the country’s capacity for NTM/MOTT diagnosis, contribute to global epidemiological data, and position NTRL as a centre of excellence in mycobacteriology research on the African continent.

Uganda SRL/NTRL looks forward to continued engagement with the Keio University team and remains committed to fostering international scientific partnerships that advance public health in Uganda and beyond.

“We greatly appreciated the opportunity to meet and are very enthusiastic about the potential for collaboration to improve NTM/MOTT diagnosis in Uganda.” – Adam Isa (NTRL Uganda)