PRESIDENT MUSEVENI CALLS FOR UK PARTNERSHIP IN PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING, PUBLIC HEALTH

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for deeper collaboration between Uganda and the United Kingdom in public health, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and medical research, saying stronger partnerships would accelerate disease prevention, boost local medicine production, and improve access to affordable healthcare. The President made the remarks today during a meeting at State House, Entebbe with a delegation from the United Kingdom 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, as well as members of the Ugandan diaspora working in the UK's health sector. President Museveni said Uganda's healthcare strategy continues to place prevention at its core, arguing that stopping diseases before they occur remains the most effective and cost-efficient way of improving public health. “Our main emphasis is public health prevention because when you prevent disease, you solve many problems. Through immunisation, we have eliminated or controlled diseases such as smallpox, polio and tuberculosis. If you add nutrition, safe water, hygiene and behavioural change, you eliminate almost 80 percent of diseases,” he said. He noted that while Uganda has registered major gains against communicable diseases, the country is increasingly focusing on the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. “We are trying to change our doctors from concentrating mainly on curative medicine to putting greater emphasis on prevention,” the President added. President Museveni also highlighted Uganda's ongoing investment in traditional medicine research, saying the country's rich biodiversity presents significant opportunities for pharmaceutical development if backed by scientific research, modern technology, and industrial investment. “We have many medicinal plants. Our scientists are working through the Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute to identify their active ingredients. What we need are partners and investment to acquire equipment, complete infrastructure and secure patents so that these medicines can be produced commercially,” he explained. He invited British pharmaceutical companies to invest in Uganda, describing the country as an ideal destination for manufacturing medicines and vaccines for both local consumption and the wider regional market. Drawing from personal experience, President Museveni recalled surviving a smallpox infection while still a student and paid tribute to the British doctor who treated him. “I still remember Dr. Allport, a British doctor, who diagnosed and isolated me after I contracted smallpox. That experience strengthened my appreciation for health workers and the importance of public health,” he said. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Hon. Cooper praised Uganda's leadership in public health, particularly its successful response to recent disease outbreaks and its longstanding commitment to hosting refugees. “Thank you for your leadership in fighting Ebola and ensuring the outbreak came to an end. We are also great admirers of Uganda's commitment to supporting refugees and vulnerable communities,” she said. Hon. Cooper said the United Kingdom is keen to deepen healthcare cooperation with Uganda and pledged to engage British pharmaceutical companies interested in investing in vaccine and medicine production. “There are companies in the UK that would be interested in collaborating with Uganda, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing and vaccine production. We will look for opportunities and bring them here and work together with your scientists,” she said. She further noted that Britain could draw valuable lessons from Uganda's preventive healthcare model. “We have much to learn from Uganda's approach to public health, particularly the emphasis on prevention and community mobilisation. Your willingness to share these experiences demonstrates strong leadership,” she added. Representing the Ugandan diaspora, Mr. Moses Bulimira said many Ugandan professionals working in the United Kingdom are eager to contribute their expertise to the country's development. “We have accomplished a lot while working in the UK, but we also want to come back and contribute to our country,” he said. The Minister of State for Health in charge of Primary Health Care, Hon. Dr. Charles Ayume, revealed that nearly 970 Ugandan nursing professionals are currently employed in the United Kingdom, underscoring the growing contribution of Uganda's healthcare workforce to Britain's health system while also highlighting the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries.