President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has invited British pharmaceutical companies to invest in Uganda, saying the country is well positioned to become a regional hub for the production of medicines and vaccines.
Speaking during a meeting with a United Kingdom delegation at State House, Entebbe, the President said partnerships in pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical research and public health would strengthen disease prevention while improving access to affordable healthcare across the region.
Museveni said Uganda is increasingly prioritising disease prevention over treatment through immunisation, improved nutrition, safe water, sanitation and community health programmes. He also highlighted the country’s investment in traditional medicine research, calling for partnerships to commercialise locally developed medicines.
“We have many medicinal plants. What we need are partners and investment to acquire equipment, complete infrastructure and secure patents so these medicines can be produced commercially,” he said.
The UK delegation, led by British MP and health consultant Beccy Cooper, welcomed the proposal and pledged to mobilise British investors.
“There are companies in the UK that would be interested in collaborating with Uganda, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing and vaccine production. We will look for opportunities and bring them here and work together with your scientists,” Cooper said, adding that Britain could also learn from Uganda’s preventive healthcare model.
The meeting was attended by Uganda’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Nimisha Madhvani, members of the Ugandan diaspora working in the UK’s health sector, State Minister for Primary Health Care Dr. Charles Ayume, and diaspora representative Moses Bulimira.
