A multi-million-dollar drug and vaccine production facility has been commissioned. Dei BioPharma was commissioned on Friday by President Museveni.
The plant that is located in Matugga along the Kampala-Gulu highway will be in a position to produce human and animal therapeutic drugs, vaccines, and other medical logistics that will be sold at cheaper prices.
The 1.8 trillion Shillings plant that sits on 150 acres of land will also produce all the biological medicines listed as essential drugs, including filgrastim, erythropoietin, and trastuzumab, among several others.
President Museveni commended the Managing Director of Dei Biopharma company, Mathias Magoola for his persistent spirit in making sure that the company is established and noted that it was important for Ugandans to practically apply the knowledge that they acquire from school to benefit their countries.
Museveni also said that it was time Africa rose from laziness and stopped being an observer and consumer in the global market.
Museveni said he was happy his former battlefield, the Luweero triangle was turning into an industrial park, heralding the creation of new jobs for young people and more revenue for the economy.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine said the rise of epidemics and the increase in other communicable diseases were a challenge as drugs and vaccines were very expensive and not locally available.
She said the biggest hindrance to the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Africa was the selfish protection of technology by developed countries, which Dei Pharma had defied by getting friends to partner with.
The Acting Company Managing Director Benedict Mihigo commended the President for supporting the project.
The project is financed by Equity Bank and Uganda Development Bank – Uganda.
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