By Ambrose Gahene
Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has called on local investors in human medicines and equipment to increase on their production so as to save the government from incurring large costs of foreign exchange, to importation of medical equipment and medicines.
Minister Aceng made the remarks during the inaugural ceremony to kick start the Uganda’s Pharma, Medical and Healthcare Exhibition 2026 on Thursday, at Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) Multi-Purpose Hall Show Grounds, Lugogo in Kampala.
Dr. Aceng, in a speech read on her behalf by Dr. Olaro Charles, the Ministry Health Director General, Health Services, said Uganda is importing over 80 percent of pharmaceuticals, where the country spends large sums of foreign exchange in procurement, transportation and packaging among others.
Minister Aceng said the Government is committed to partnering with the private sector to support innovations in the health sector, adding that medicines produced in Uganda have been proved to meet international standards.
She commended Indian healthcare providers and exhibitors for playing a pivotal role in advancing Uganda’s provision of healthcare to all and vision 2040.
India’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Upender Singh Rawat, appreciated Uganda’s commitment to partnering with Indian pharmaceutical companies to render healthcare services to Ugandans.
He said the expo will enable members of the public to visit and network with various healthcare providers and get to know the affordability of medicine and health equipment prices from the right people.
He called on Indian Investors in Uganda’s Healthcare to work as a team to reduce the bottlenecks associated with the cost of doing business.
The three days expo is organized by Trade Services India Private Limited (ETSIPL) with support from the Ministry of Health. It attracted more than 100 exhibitors from Uganda, Egypt, India, Kenya and China among many others.
In a separate interview with members of the press, Dr. Olaro said the international expo provides an immense opportunity to capture the untapped market of the East African Region through Uganda. He said locally produced medicines are in line with Uganda’s motto to promote Ugandan products; under the spirit of “Buy Uganda Build Uganda”, (BUBU)
The Exhibition, which runs from 26 – 28 March, 2026 is officially supported by the Ministry of Health Uganda, National Drug Authority (NDA), Allied Health Professionals Council Uganda, Uganda Medical Association, Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), Orthopaedic Society of Uganda, and Uganda Dental Association amongst the other local associations, plus trade organizations.