Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Uganda has taken a significant step in the fight against sickle cell disease following the launch of locally manufactured Hydroxyurea by Quality Chemical Industries Limited, a development health officials say could improve treatment access, reduce costs, and strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical independence.
The announcement was made at the company’s manufacturing facility in Luzira, Kampala, on 20 May, in an event attended by senior government officials, including representatives from the Ministry of Health, as well as company leadership led by executive chairman Emmanuel Katongole.
For Uganda, where sickle cell disease remains one of the most common inherited blood disorders, the development is being viewed not just as a pharmaceutical milestone, but as a broader shift in how the country responds to long-term public health challenges.