AboutAS

Uganda’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) system is a coordinated framework that regulates access to genetic resources and ensures fair and equitable sharing of benefits, in line with the Nagoya Protocol. It comprises the Focal Point – National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the Competent National Authority – Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), Lead Agencies – Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Universities, Research Institutes, Research Centres), Ministries, Private Resource Owners, Communities, and Local Governments.

The Uganda Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House (ABS Clearing-House, ABSCH) is a national platform for exchanging information on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing established by Article 14 of the Nagoya Protocol, as part of a clearing-house mechanism under Article 18, paragraph 3 of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The ABS Clearing-House is a key tool for facilitating the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol by enhancing legal certainty, clarity and transparency on procedures for access and for monitoring the utilization of genetic resources along the value chain, including through the internationally recognized certificate of compliance. By hosting relevant information on ABS, the Clearing-House will provide opportunities to connect users and providers of genetic resources, Digital Sequence Information (DSI), associated traditional knowledge (TK), and biological samples.

The Nagoya Protocol on ABS and its fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization to the CBD is an international agreement which aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. It entered into force on 12th October 2014.