By David Rupiny
The Ugandan government is supporting the establishment of a medical industrial estate valued at $50 million (UGX184.4 billion) that will do local manufacture of essential health and laboratory products.
The project, proposed to be located in Seeta, about 15 kilometres east of Kampala city centre, is being undertaken by Elstop Uganda Limited.
Elstop Healthcare Solutions is a medical device and diagnostics company delivering large-scale healthcare projects across Uganda and the East African region.
The development is a major step towards strengthening local manufacturing and improving healthcare delivery.
The medical park will focus on the local manufacture of laboratory reagents and other essential health products to reduce Uganda’s dependence on imports while improving access to affordable healthcare supplies.
While meeting the investors, the Minister of State for Privatisation and Investment, Amina Mukalazi, welcomed the investment, saying it would significantly reduce the cost of laboratory tests by enabling the local production of laboratory reagents that would reduce imports and save substantial foreign exchange.
Minister Mukalazi said industrial parks should have anchor investors and industries to be viable and globally competitive.
The Minister asked the Director General of Uganda Investment Authority, Robert Mukiza, to coordinate all the required social amenities for the establishment of a functional industrial park. Mukiza assured the minister and the investors of the authority’s support.
Already, land for the establishment of the medical industrial park has been identified at Seeta in Mukono District.
The managing director of Elstop, Yitzark Shemesh, said construction of the first phase is expected to take 12 months, marking the beginning of what is anticipated to become a strategic healthcare manufacturing hub for Uganda and the region.
The investment is expected to employ over 6,000 Ugandans across manufacturing, transport and logistics, research, related value chains, and skills development, among others.
The company requested the government to provide them 10 acres of serviced land, a 10-year offtake commitment to purchase the reagents, a 10-year tax holiday, and amenities such as roads, water, and electricity.
***
