Government to Resettle Residents Near Dei BioPharma for Expansion

The Minister of State for Investment and Privatisation, Aminah Mukalazi, announced that residents owning land and property near the Dei BioPharma Ltd campus in Matugga will be resettled. This move, ordered by President Museveni, aims to pave the way for the expansion of the pharmaceutical facility, which manufactures medicines and vaccines.

The decision follows a meeting between Minister Mukalazi, the company’s proprietor Dr. Matthias Magoola, and local officials. Mukalazi stated that the government, which has a significant stake in Dei BioPharma, is responsible for ensuring public safety, as industrial activities of this nature necessitate a buffer zone.

President Museveni has instructed local authorities to halt new construction within a specified radius of the plant, which has been gazetted as an industrial park. Government agencies are now tasked with relocating residents from villages including Kigoogwa A and B, Kiryammuli, Wabitembe, and Kiryowa.

Dr. Magoola explained that the relocation is crucial for obtaining international certifications from bodies like the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Proximity of residential homes can hinder these approvals, as regulations require manufacturing entities to be surrounded by security and natural barriers.

Government valuers will assess properties for compensation for both mailo landowners and bibanja holders. Residents are cautioned against using middlemen, and land transfers in the affected area have been stopped. Dei BioPharma, currently on 250 acres, plans to host around 30 factories and requires additional land for its expansion and to meet global standards.

Founded by Dr. Magoola, Dei BioPharma has a robust patent portfolio with the USPTO, covering treatments for various diseases. Some of its products have already gained acceptance from the US FDA, and the Matugga plant is licensed by the National Drug Authority, producing several generic medicines.

Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/371973/government-to-resettle-residents-around-dei-biopharma-plant