By Our Reporter
On Friday, members of the Parliamentary Health Committee visited the East African Medical Vitals factory, located in Namanve Industrial Park, commending its rapid development as Africa’s first surgical glove manufacturer.
The factory, established in 2021 by entrepreneur Ben Kavuya and five corporate shareholders, currently employs over 400 Ugandans and is entirely locally owned. According to company executives, there are plans to expand its product line to include condoms, syringes, cannulas, and blood bags.
During the visit, the factory management shared several challenges they face, particularly the lack of locally sourced rubber. Hon. Dr. Joseph Ruyonga, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Committee, proposed conducting a feasibility study to explore rubber cultivation in Uganda, noting that rubber trees mature in five years and can be harvested for over 25 years.
“This could be a sustainable source of income for Ugandans,” Dr. Ruyonga remarked.
Ben Kavuya, the Executive Chairman, emphasized the need for affordable financing to support the growth of the manufacturing sector. “Manufacturing is not like running a garment shop,” Kavuya said. “It requires patient capital due to the complex processes involved.”
He urged the government to create a dedicated fund to support manufacturers, explaining that this would be crucial for the sector’s expansion. Kavuya also suggested that government resources should be directed towards helping successful companies grow, rather than focusing on reviving struggling enterprises.
“Concentrating on rescuing failing businesses is not a sustainable strategy,” Kavuya argued. “It’s more effective to support companies that are already performing well.”
Brian Kavuya, the Managing Director of East African Medical Vitals, shared some of the factory’s key milestones. The company received approval from the National Drug Authority (NDA) to sell its surgical gloves in September 2021, and the factory was officially launched by President Museveni in December of the same year.
The Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) invested UGX 20 billion to support the factory’s expansion, facilitating the installation of a second production line, packaging equipment, and a warehouse. This new production line, which opened in July, enables the factory to supply its products to key government entities such as the National Medical Stores (NMS) and the Joint Medical Store (JMS), in addition to private laboratories.
