MUKONO.The State Minister for Investment, Ms. Evelyne Anite, has warned investors who have failed to utilize their plots of land in Namanve Industrial Park government donated to them , noting that it will be withdrawn.
Ms Anite said this during the groundbreaking of the construction of Piston Medical Limited Annex in Namanve Industrial Park on Wednesday.
It is strictly 18 months that one has to develop the land; if you fail, then it reverts to the government and is given to those ready to develop it.’ the minister said
She emphasized that President Museveni said that they should give conditions so that people don’t hold the land in perpetuity without developing it.
Some have been buying time by corrupting our people and have stayed for 10 years with no development on the land,’ Anite said.
However, Ms Anite appreciated a local investor, Piston Medical Limited, a Ugandan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing company, specialized in producing parenteral medicines for the African region.
The company is employing Ugandans, Indians, and expatriates with specialized technical expertise.
Indians who are well versed with the technology of drugs/medicines have been hired to share their knowledge and train Ugandans, thus boosting the health system in the country and Africa.
The Chief Executive Officer, Benjamin Kiiza, said Piston Medical is a manufacturer of injectable of small and large volumes, as four are already under the National Drug Authority. The products under analysis include Sodium Chloride, Dextrose 10, Dextrose 5, and Dextrose Normal Saline.
He said the company is currently producing about 16 products, and they plan to grow to approximately 100 products within five years.
‘We are manufacturing injectable and expanding into powdered and lyophilized injections, which will change the scene of medical manufacturing within our country but also within our region.’
He noted that their contribution is largely to make sure that they get good quality products for both Ugandans and citizens of Africa.
He also said that the facility will serve as the manufacturing and distribution centre, enabling them to better cater for the regional market.
We do not have enough land currently to be able to store and also manufacture other products, but also this is a strategic push by the government because as piston we are looking at expanding for the regional market
Ms Christine Natasha, the deputy director of Industrial Park Development, said that five years ago, they allocated a five-acre plot to Piston Medical Ltd, but they are already producing the drugs.
Piston focuses on growth, innovation and transforming health care in Uganda and beyond is evident in their progress.