Uganda Exports First Batch of Locally Manufactured HIV Self-Test Kits to Kenya

Healthcare workers in Uganda have welcomed the inauguration of the country’s first local manufacturing facility for ‘OraQuick’ HIV self-test kits. Located in Ntenjeru, Mukono district, the factory is owned by Zakayo Industries Limited and operates in partnership with US-based OraSure Technologies.

The commissioning event also marked a major regional milestone: the dispatch of the facility’s first export consignment of self-testing kits to Kenya.

Plant manager Shamim Naggayi noted that local production has already encouraged more individuals to check their HIV status, bypassing the fear and hospital queues that often deter people from traditional testing methods. While the kits are distributed for free in public health facilities, retail prices in pharmacies have dropped from Shs 40,000 in 2018 to around Shs 25,000 or Shs 30,000. Zakayo Industries aims to eventually drive the price down to Shs 7,000 to ensure affordability.

The facility currently produces between 50,000 and 60,000 kits daily, employing over 120 workers. The company plans to transition from current assembly and secondary packaging into full manufacturing of diagnostic devices by 2028.

Ronald Wantanda Zakayo, chief executive officer of Zakayo Industries, emphasized that the venture aims to curb HIV transmission, create local employment, and generate tax revenue. Dr Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, highlighted that local production cuts down reliance on expensive imports and foreign exchange. Officials believe self-testing will successfully bridge the gap for men and young people who face barriers to conventional hospital screenings.

Read more details in the original report on The Observer.