Partnerships

President Museveni Calls for Stronger UK Partnership in Pharmaceuticals and Public Health

Owen Benjamin Lekuni

Entebbe, Kampala

Entebbe, Kampala – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni called for deeper cooperation between Uganda and the United Kingdom in public health, pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical research, saying stronger partnerships can accelerate disease prevention, strengthen local medicine production and improve access to affordable healthcare.

The President made the call during a meeting at State House Entebbe with a United Kingdom delegation led by Uganda’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Nimisha Madhvani. The delegation included British politician, health consultant and Chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group, Hon. Beccy Cooper, alongside members of the Ugandan diaspora working in the UK health sector. President Museveni said Uganda’s healthcare strategy places prevention at the centre, noting that preventing diseases is more effective and cost-efficient than treating them. He highlighted immunisation, nutrition, safe water, hygiene and behavioural change as key interventions that have helped Uganda control several communicable diseases.

The President noted that Uganda is now increasingly addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension. He called for a shift towards greater emphasis on preventive healthcare while maintaining effective treatment services. President Museveni also highlighted opportunities in traditional medicine research, pointing to Uganda’s rich biodiversity and medicinal plants. He said scientists at the Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute are working to identify active ingredients that could support the development of new medicines. However, he stressed the need for investment in modern equipment, infrastructure, scientific research and patenting to enable commercial production.

The President invited British pharmaceutical companies to invest in Uganda, particularly in the production of medicines and vaccines for the domestic and regional markets. He said Uganda has the potential to become an important pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in the region. Reflecting on his personal experience with smallpox, President Museveni recalled the role played by a British doctor, Dr. Allport, who diagnosed and isolated him after he contracted the disease while still a student. He said the experience reinforced his appreciation of healthcare workers and the importance of strong public health systems.

Hon. Beccy Cooper commended Uganda’s leadership in responding to disease outbreaks, including Ebola, and praised the country’s longstanding commitment to supporting refugees and vulnerable communities. She expressed the UK’s interest in strengthening healthcare cooperation and pledged to help connect British pharmaceutical companies with Ugandan scientists and institutions interested in vaccine and medicine production. She also noted that the UK could learn from Uganda’s preventive healthcare approach and community mobilisation.

Representing the Ugandan diaspora, Mr. Moses Bulimira said Ugandan professionals in the UK are eager to share their expertise and contribute to national development. Minister of State for Health in charge of Primary Health Care, Hon. Dr. Charles Ayume, noted that nearly 970 Ugandan nursing professionals are currently employed in the UK, reflecting the strong people-to-people ties and growing health-sector cooperation between the two countries.