UIA licenses new manufacturer of medical diagnostic products

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) has offered an investment license to Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co. Ltd, one of the world’s biggest and manufacturers of medical diagnostic reagents and equipment.

The company described as the fastest-growing point of care diagnostic testing (POCT) manufacturers in the world, is setting shop in Uganda to manufacture pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemicals and botanical products, the implication being that it would utilize locally sourced raw materials. The company went public in June 2015 and employs more than 1,100 employees in China.

In the fight against COVID-19, the company has successfully developed multiple diagnostic products to efficiently detect the virus. The anti-Covid products are nucleic or PCR tests, which supports room temperature storage, and transportation, antigen tests, which contribute to the early clinical classification and efficient management of suspected patients, and antibody tests, which can be used as additional complements to antigen and PCR testing.

Speaking at the handover of the investment license to Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co. Ltd., UIA Director-General Robert Mukiza said the authority is keen on attracting more investments in the pathogenic industry in order to boost the sector.

Mukiza said UIA is laser-focused to expedite the process of acquiring investment licenses in order to speed up the set-up of critical investment projects.

Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co. Ltd. becomes the second pathogenic industry investment project that UIA has licensed in one month, the other being Jena Herbals Uganda Ltd., the manufacturers of Covidex, a supportive drug in the treatment of COVID-19.

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URN