President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has launched Piston Medical Ltd, a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Namanve Industrial Park, to foster Uganda’s industrialization drive.
The plant will produce intravenous fluids and essential medicines, reducing Uganda’s dependence on imports and strengthening the local pharmaceutical industry.
“I am very happy to see Ugandans venturing into industrialization. This is the socio-economic transformation we keep talking about,” Museveni said at the launch. He emphasized the need for businesses to focus on production for income rather than mere consumption.
The President highlighted Uganda’s economic priorities, including commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT, noting that industrialization is crucial for economic growth.
“In developed countries like the USA, only 2% of the population is engaged in agriculture, while most people work in manufacturing and services. What is happening here is a big step forward for Uganda’s economy,” he said.
Museveni reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment through strategic policies, including offering free land and tax incentives to manufacturers.
“The land is not for sale. What we want is for you to produce products needed here and for export. Our contribution is free land, and we also provide tax incentives. For the first 10 years, manufacturers are not taxed directly, but the government still earns revenue through indirect taxes,” he said.
The President also addressed concerns about high electricity costs, attributing them to expensive power from the Bujagali hydropower plant. He assured investors that the government would work on reducing energy costs and promised to improve the Namboole-Namanve Industrial Park road.
The Chief Executive Officer of Piston Medical, Mr. Benjamin Kiiza, praised Uganda’s industrial progress and the government’s support for local manufacturers.
“Our journey in the medical industry began as a distributor, but in 2019, we decided to venture into manufacturing. After conducting a market study in Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan, we gained the confidence to move forward,” Kiiza said.
He noted that Piston Medical is the first facility in the region to produce large- and small-volume parenteral solutions using sterile technology.
“Our products meet the highest standards of safety and quality. Being a Ugandan-owned company, we take pride in serving our nation,” he added.
Kiiza highlighted the company’s role in job creation, revealing that 100 employees currently work at the plant, with additional indirect jobs created in the community. He also acknowledged financial challenges and the importance of patient capital in sustaining long-term investments.
The Managing Director of Uganda Development Bank (UDB), Patricia Ojangole, commended the government’s industrial policies, emphasizing UDB’s role in supporting local manufacturers.
“To date, we have supported about 17 factories, all contributing to job creation, economic growth, and import substitution,” Ojangole said.
She congratulated Piston Medical on its achievement, calling it a motivation for other Ugandan entrepreneurs to invest in manufacturing.
The event was attended by Minister of State for Investment and Privatization, Evelyn Anite, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, and other key government officials.
