President Yoweri Museveni having moment with the Management of the East African Medical Vitals company during the launch of the East African Medical Vitals factory in Namanve Industrial Park –Mukono on 11th December 2021. President Yoweri Museveni has directed the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Agriculture to find land to facilitate the growing of rubber which is an essential raw material for production of medical supplies.
“The Minister of Industry should be in touch with Agriculture about the growing of rubber. Because, this is the linkage – the rubber which is agriculture, links up with the oil industry, the factory links up with the health sector etc,” Museveni said.
Mr Museveni was speaking on Saturday after the official commissioning of the East African Medical Vitals (EAMV), a local Ugandan company that manufactures high quality, latex, powder-free medical gloves (examination and surgical), vital medical consumables in health facilities. President Museveni said rubber growing would save a lot of money that has been going out in importation of medical supplies and also raw materials. He congratulated East African Medical Vitals for the initiative. The machine makes 5000 pairs of surgical gloves in an hour at the East African Medical Vitals factory in Namanve Industrial Park –Mukono “This is an effort of import substitution. Stop buying from others what you can make yourself, “he added.
The state-of-the-art manufacturing plant located in Namanve Industrial Park has the capacity to produce over 10,000 pieces per hour and about 95 million gloves annually, ready to supply the East Africa and COMESA markets.
According to the Executive Director East African Medical Vitals, Mr. Ben Kavuya, they import latex-the raw materials used in the manufacture of surgical gloves and condoms- from Malaysia, adding that in future, the country needs to tap into the sector by introducing rubber growing, which he said would have a ready market and provide employment to many Ugandans.
The Minister of State for Investment and Privatization, Ms. Evelyn Anite, said took a swipe at Uganda Development Bank (UDB) which she said is not living up to the task of saving local manufacturers even after government injecting one trillion Uganda shillings whose purpose was to support production, processing and manufacturing of essential items for the country to be resilient amidst the supply chain disruptions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We summoned the board and management of Uganda Development Bank to come and explain to us […]
