African military scholars tour Uganda's drug-making facility, seeing health security as national security

A group of 36 senior military scholars from nine African countries recently toured Dei BioPharma’s expansive pharmaceutical manufacturing complex near Kampala. The visit underscored a growing understanding among African military leaders that health security is intrinsically linked to national security.

These officers, including representatives from Mali, Guinea-Conakry, Burkina Faso, Niger, Morocco, Togo, Chad, Senegal, and Cameroon, were not inspecting traditional military assets. Instead, they were keen to observe Uganda’s advancements in producing its own medicines and vaccines. This focus stems from the vulnerability nations face when heavily reliant on imported pharmaceuticals, especially during global crises.

The delegation, led by Mali’s Brig. Gen. Moussa Yoro Kante, was part of a strategic study tour hosted by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Kante expressed admiration for Dei BioPharma’s work, stating that the facility’s achievements were inspiring and would be shared as a model upon their return.

Dr. Matthias Magoola, founder of Dei BioPharma, highlighted Africa’s significant dependence on imported drugs, estimating that the continent imports approximately 85% of its medicinal needs. He emphasized that acquiring the technology for local manufacturing is crucial for improving access to affordable medicines and bolstering economic independence.

Dr. Magoola also shared President Yoweri Museveni’s vision for continental cooperation, indicating Uganda’s willingness to share pharmaceutical formulas with other African nations. The company’s long-term goal is to make life-saving treatments, such as those for cancer, more accessible and affordable by producing them within Africa. This initiative aims to reduce the current situation where many Africans cannot afford essential biological drugs.

The visit signals a significant continental interest in Uganda’s growing pharmaceutical sector and its potential to reduce external dependencies, fostering self-reliance across Africa. The tour concluded a broader program of military cooperation between Uganda and Mali.

Source: https://observer.ug/news/military-scholars-see-ugandas-drug-making-ambitions-as-a-model-for-africa