Museveni Hails Quality Chemicals on 20 Years as Firm Breaks Ground for New Factory

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has congratulated Quality Chemical Industries Limited (QCIL) on marking 20 years in operation and breaking ground for a new 28,000-square-metre state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, describing it as a step forward in Uganda’s journey towards industrial and pharmaceutical self-reliance.

Through his X handle, the President said the milestone reflects the government’s long-term plan to reduce dependence on imports and retain money within Uganda’s economy.

“This milestone, as we celebrate Uganda’s Independence, is what the NRM has been talking about all this time,” President Museveni said.

“We must stop the hemorrhage of resources from our country. The money we spend on imports can build about 40 factories in Uganda and create over one million jobs.”

Museveni added that Uganda’s goal of producing its own essential medicines and vaccines is finally being realized through companies like QCIL.

“We resolved that Uganda must produce its own essential HIV and Malaria vaccines, and I am very happy to witness this vision being fulfilled. I congratulate them,” he said.

Expanding Uganda’s Pharmaceutical Footprint

The new facility, set to cover 28,000 square metres, will expand QCIL’s capacity to produce a wider range of medicines, including injectables and treatments for tuberculosis.
The project comes after QCIL secured financing worth about USD 36 million (UGX 133 billion) from Stanbic Bank Uganda to support the expansion.

Once completed, the new plant is expected to increase production from 1.4 billion tablets annually to about 2.4 billion tablets, and create more jobs for Ugandan scientists, engineers, and technicians.

About Quality Chemical Industries Limited

QCIL was founded in 2005 as a partnership between Ugandan entrepreneurs led by Emmanuel Katongole and Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla.
In 2023, Cipla sold its majority shares to Africa Capitalworks, and the company reverted to its original name — Quality Chemical Industries Limited — in February 2024.

The company manufactures antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for HIV/AIDS, antimalarials, and treatments for Hepatitis B, among other essential medicines.
QCIL’s products are approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and distributed to over 30 countries across Africa.

The firm currently employs over 360 staff and remains one of the few pharmaceutical manufacturers in Sub-Saharan Africa producing high-quality ARVs and ACTs locally.

Driving Industrial Independence

Government officials say QCIL’s expansion fits within Uganda’s broader import substitution and job creation strategy, especially in critical health sectors.

Economists also note that by manufacturing medicines locally, Uganda can significantly cut its pharmaceutical import bill, improve access to life-saving drugs, and build capacity for future vaccine production.

As the President put it, QCIL’s milestone is “proof that Ugandans can build, innovate, and manufacture for Africa and the world.”