Mukula Wants Gov’t to Protect Local Manufacturers from Chinese Importers

The NRM Vice-Chairman Eastern Region and Businessman Captain Mike Mukula has called upon the Government of Uganda to Protect Local Manufacturers from Chinese Importers.

Mukula made a call to the government earlier this week as his syringe factory faces less market for its products, which could result in its shutdown and loss of jobs.

Mukula is the Chairman & the director at MAHATHI medical industries ltd, which is a private company that manufactures medical products for Uganda and regional markets, which is approved by national drug authority and national bureau of standards & effectively approved and certified by ISO.

Mukula made an outcry to the government, urging it to implement BUBU (Buy Uganda and Build Uganda).

“The Chinese companies are dumping their goods into the Uganda market and thus polluting our disposable syringes market .India is equally doing the same in the same market. We are seeking for a tariff protection in order to preserve and protect our local industries. All countries provide targeted tariff protections, “Mukula noted.

Protecting nascent African industries from dominant foreign competitors (e.g., Chinese & Indian firms) is key to long-term economic growth. Without protection, local industries struggle against cheaper imports due to high production costs, expensive electricity & lack of economies of scale.

He further noted that smart protectionism today will result in industrial strength tomorrow.

“Strategic protection—via tariffs, subsidies & local content policies—allows African firms to grow, create jobs & develop competitive advantages. Every major economy once protected its industries before opening up. Africa must do the same to build self-sufficiency & reduce reliance on imports”-Mukula.

What You Need to Know about Captain Mukula’s Syringes Plant in Namanve.

The erected multi-billion Shillings Syringes manufacturing factory in Namanve.

Late last year, Captain Mukula announced that MAHATHI MEDICALS INDUSTRIES LTD had successfully tested its production line of the disposable syringes plant in NAMANVE and had started production. This is one of the largest plants in sub-Saharan Africa, “said Mukula.

MAHATHI MEDICAL INDUSTRIES LTD becomes the first East Africa and 3rd in Central African company to manufacture medical devices such as disposable syringes.

The devices are expected to be exported to over 28 countries across the globe and also supplying numerous government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private clientele. Every hospital in Africa, daily, uses needles on a majority of the patients they see.

Just like gloves, needles, and syringes are an essential aspect of hospital practice in Uganda and Africa at large. They are widely used to collect blood samples for investigations, to administer injections, and for other purposes.

Excluding the purpose of sample collection for diagnosis purposes, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) conservative estimate pegged the number of injections administered annually at 16 billion out of which 5% are for immunizing children and adults, and 5% are for other procedures like blood transfusions and injectable contraceptives.

The remaining 90% of injections are given into muscle (intramuscular route) or skin (subcutaneous or intradermal route) to administer medicines.

This global trend is similar in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, Congo, Rwanda, etc, where health practitioners are giving injections even though there are oral treatment options.

One reason is that people in many countries expect to receive injections, believing they represent the most effective treatment. Another is that for many health workers in developing countries, giving injections in private practice supplements salaries that may be inadequate to support their families.

Since the trend is not ending anytime soon, a multi-billion dollar sector has emerged, one that is expected to reach USD 1.64 billion by 2025 from a market value of USD 1.22 billion in 2016 at a CAGR of 5.98%.

The steady rise in the syringe market has been linked to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, rising ageing population, and technological advancements in syringe drug delivery.

While the increasing prevalence of diabetes resulted in higher demand for syringes, the major factor limiting the growth of the global syringe market has been factors like the risk of infection associated with drug delivery through syringes, and the high costs of specialized syringes. Here, Captain Mike Mukula says this project will reduce the costs.

In 2015, WHO called for the adoption of syringes with improved safety features. It, however, admitted that donors would be required to heavily subsidize the cost of the smart syringes, which cost at least twice the amount for the regular types.