Uganda has taken a major step towards healthcare independence with the approval and production of locally manufactured diagnostic test kits for malaria, HIV, and sickle cell disease. The National Drug Authority (NDA) has officially approved these kits, produced by Micro Haem Scientifics (MHS), a private Ugandan company.
Dr. David Nahamya, Secretary of the NDA, confirmed that the products met quality assurance standards before approval.
“NDA ensures that only high-quality drugs and medical devices are available in the country. We congratulate the plant for achieving Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification—a significant milestone,” he stated.
Scaling Up Production and National Distribution
MHS has the capacity to produce 80 million test kits annually, significantly reducing Uganda’s dependence on imports. The company has already delivered an initial batch of 2 million kits to the Ministry of Health, which will now distribute them nationwide through the National Medical Stores (NMS).
The Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, officially flagged off the first consignment.
“Ensuring accurate and prompt diagnosis is crucial for better healthcare. These kits will replace traditional microscopes and provide results within 15 minutes,” Dr. Kyabayinze remarked.
Economic and Strategic Benefits
Dr. Cedric Akwesigye, the founder and managing director of Micro Haem Scientifics, highlighted the long journey towards this achievement. The company secured a $7.5 million (Shs27.5 billion) loan from the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) to establish its manufacturing facility.
Each test kit is priced at $1 (Shs3,660), a cost-saving measure that eliminates logistical expenses such as shipping and import duties.
“By manufacturing locally, we cut off logistical costs, making it more sustainable. Our current contract with the government covers four million test kits, which is about 30% of Uganda’s annual demand,” Dr. Akwesigye explained.
Beyond malaria, HIV, and sickle cell testing, MHS is developing additional diagnostic solutions to enhance Uganda’s pandemic preparedness.
“This facility is designed to respond to health emergencies. When new diseases emerge, we must be ready to develop test kits for timely diagnosis,” he added.
Government and Financial Sector Support
Ms. Patricia Ojangole, Managing Director of UDB, praised the initiative as a breakthrough for Uganda’s healthcare sector.
“This project represents more than just medical kits; it symbolizes hope, resilience, and Uganda’s innovative potential. Our mission at UDB is to support home-grown solutions that drive socio-economic transformation,” she said.
Dr. Kyabayinze also acknowledged the government’s market guarantee agreement with MHS as a strategic move to promote local production. He reassured the public that post-market surveillance would be conducted to ensure accuracy and reliability of the test kits.
