Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - December 19, 2005
Ben Mugisha
The drugs increase the life expectancy of people who have tested positive to HIV and enables them to live a near-to-normal life. Quality Chemicals Ltd, a leading distributor of life science products, has signed a joint venture with CIPLA Ltd, to manufacture and export ARVs by August 2006.
CIPLA is the world's leading generic manufacturer and India's largest pharmaceutical company. Health minister Jim Muhwezi said the project was private, adding that the Government would not inject money in it.
A memorandum of understanding that gives specific terms was signed on December 14 between Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Mohammed Kezaala on behalf of the Government and Emmanuel Katongole on behalf of Quality Chemicals Ltd at the ministry headquarters.
The $16m investment, to be built in Luzira industrial park, shall see the first dose of its production come out in August 2006. construction on the site begins in the first week of January.
The New Vision has learnt that the plant, earlier planned to be located in South Africa or Kenya, was later shifted to Uganda after Quality Chemicals Ltd with the support of President Yoweri Museveni put up a fight basing on Uganda's past track record in the fight against HIV.
Kezaala said HIV/AIDS and malaria account for 25% of all deaths in Uganda and as a result, many Ugandans were unhealthy, less productive and poor.
Katongole said, "Our target is to make Uganda a hub that will export ARVs to a region of 200 million people, bringing in foreign exchange for national development."
Flanked by the director of finance Fred Mutebi Katika and director of marketing, George W. Baguma, Katongole said the investment would create 300 jobs in the country.
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