Wakiso, Uganda – The State Minister for Finance in charge of Investment, Hon. Evelyn Anite, paid a special visit to Mavid Pharmaceuticals, a Ugandan-owned medical company making a variety of healthcare products. The visit aimed to explore how the government can support and grow local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Speaking during the visit, Hon. Anite expressed excitement about the work being done by Ugandans in a critical sector like pharmaceuticals.
“It’s a very exciting day for me to meet Ugandan manufacturers making medicines and medical supplies locally. This shows that Ugandans can do it, and they are doing it well,” she said.
Local Products Made in Uganda
Mavad Pharmaceuticals is currently producing a wide range of medical and healthcare products. These include:
- Wound care items such as surgical spirits, hydrogen peroxide, and povidone iodine
- Medicines like cough syrups, gastric antacids, and liniments for sports injuries
- Mama Kits for expectant mothers, including cotton, gloves, and blades
- Skincare products like calamine lotion for scabies and chickenpox
- Hotel spirit and multi-purpose disinfectants
- Laboratory and mouth care products
Dr. Aisha Bukenya, Head of Pharmacy at Mavid, explained that their products are certified by the National Drug Authority (NDA) and, for some items, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). This makes them safe and ready for use by Ugandans.
Creating Jobs and Reducing Imports
The Minister emphasized that buying local products helps support jobs and the economy. She praised Mavid for employing Ugandans and for being self-reliant.
“By buying Ugandan products, you’re not just getting quality medicine, you’re supporting Ugandans who work in these companies,” she said.
Currently, Uganda still imports most of its medical supplies, even simple items that can be made locally. Minister Anite said this must change. She stressed that President Yoweri Museveni has been pushing to stop Uganda from becoming a supermarket for foreign goods and instead grow local industries.
Support from Government Promised
Mavid Pharmaceuticals currently operates on land it bought privately and is not yet in an official industrial park. Hon. Anite promised to help move the company into a government industrial park where it can get more support, including: Free land, Tax and non-tax incentives, Better access to utilities and transport,
Support with market access through agencies like National Medical Stores (NMS) and Joint Medical Stores (JMS)
The company had previously supplied NMS but paused production due to internal challenges. They are now back in full production and ready to work with government agencies again.
“We will reconnect them with National Medical Stores so that public hospitals can buy from them again instead of importing,” Anite promised.
Challenges and the Way Forward
Dr. Bukenya explained that one of the major challenges they face is the high cost of importing raw materials. Uganda does not yet manufacture its own pharmaceutical ingredients, so companies like Mavid must buy them from Kenya, which also imports them from countries like India and China. This drives up the cost of medicine.
However, with government support, she believes Uganda can begin producing its own materials in the future.
“If we can grow to the point of making our own inputs, medicines in Uganda would be much cheaper,” she said.
Mavid also has plans to introduce life-saving products not yet available in Uganda, such as emergency bleeding control items for accident victims.
In conclusion, Hon. Anite praised Mavid Pharmaceuticals for its commitment to improving healthcare in Uganda and creating jobs for Ugandans. She promised full government support to ensure the company grows and contributes even more to the country’s development.
“We need more companies like Mavid. If we have 10 or 20 more, Uganda will become self-reliant in medicine. I am proud to stand with Ugandan investors making a real difference,” she said.
