President Museveni yesterday commissioned a $50 million (Shs180.49b) starch factory in Namasagali Sub-county, Kamuli District during his re-election campaign .
The factory is owned by Dr Matthias Magoola, the founder of Dei Biopharma, an entrepreneur who the President has praised by for his innovative spirit. The facility, established by Dei Biopharma, will produce starch, glucose, and maltose for pharmaceutical and food industries, with plans to extract more than 100 derivatives from cassava, maize, and potatoes.
This project is part of a larger $10 billion (Shs36.09b) investment plan to establish a biotech hub, including a 1,000-bed hospital for sickle cell and cancer treatment, and a vaccine facility. President Museveni revealed that he has been supporting Mr Magoola’s pharmaceutical ventures, including a malaria cure, financially. Mr Museveni also warned Basoga against infighting, urging them to appreciate and support progressive individuals instead of frustrating them.
‘I met this young man through his uncle, and I helped him when he had issues with India. I facilitated his legal work, and now we appreciate his innovation and should support him,’ he said.
The incumbent also encouraged Dr Magoola to forgive those who doubted him, adding that some people didn’t take him seriously in the past. “I don’t know why Africans don’t like innovation; they are used to sleeping. Africans like to criticise. Congratulations, Magoola, but forgive everyone disturbing you. That’s how I also started fighting, and people thought I was mad,’ Mr Museveni said. Dr Magoola said the investment is meant to make Uganda competitive in drug manufacturing by reducing dependence on imported inputs.
He noted that almost 99 percent of the starch and other ingredients used in tablet and capsule production are imported, making African pharmaceuticals expensive. ‘We are among the first companies in Africa to manufacture our own pharmaceutical ingredients…The facility aims to make quality medicines affordable for Ugandans and Africans, creating jobs and driving industrial growth,’ Dr Magoola said. He added that the plant will require 500 metric tonnes of cassava daily, opening a stable and lucrative market for farmers across Busoga, Bukedi, Lango and Teso sub-regions.
President Museveni also promised to establish an industrial park in Namasagali once he is re-elected. He was campaigning in Kamuli District. He also added that industrialisation is the way to go as the country strives to solve the problem of unemployment. ‘Industrial jobs currently triple those of the government. Therefore, if you assure me of land, an industrial park will come to Namasagali as requested, ”Mr Museveni said. The President said the already established industries in the country are employing 1.3 million people compared to 480,000 jobs being occupied by civil servants.
The First Lady and Education minister, Ms Janet Museveni, added her voice to Mr Museveni’s call for support. ‘I request you to tell your neighbours and friends to support NRM. It has got a strong pillar for service delivery,” Ms Museveni said, adding: ‘I can honestly assure you that education will improve year by year.”
The First Deputy Prime Minister and Kamuli Woman MP, Ms Rebecca Kadaga told Kamuli residents that her political grievances caused during the NRM structure elections in August ended.
‘The disagreements we had were forgotten in the interest of the party. So let’s support our president,” Ms Kadaga, who lost in her re-election bid for NRM’s Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) in the Central Executive Committee, said. She also urged President Museveni to intervene in the reopening of Busoga University, among others.