With surge in the COVID-19 cases in Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni has said that the production of more effective Uganda-made Covid-19 vaccine is gearing towards advanced stages as they are now on Stage 4.
Speaking during the World Health Summit Africa at Munyonyo yesterday, Museveni said that the selfishness of the developed countries during this COVID-19 crisis has opened the minds of Africans to always fight for themselves other than waiting to be saved by others.
“We (Uganda) have a long history and experience in dealing with such major disease outbreaks including Ebola. We are in the process of making our own COVID-19 vaccine,” said Museveni.
“Research into African traditional medicine is important, in making good use of our naturally and richly endowed environment. Countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America use traditional medicine to help meet some of their primary health care needs,” he added.
Museveni explained that making a vaccine involves 9 or 8 phases if the World Health Organisation (WHO) allows you to skip one.
“Ugandan researchers are almost at stage 4. We hope to get to stage 8 by November, 2021,” he said.
Nonetheless he said that in the short run, government is in the process of procuring COVID19 vaccines.
“Government in collaboration with African Union have put up efforts to procure more vaccines for the population alongside measures to develop our own. We are continuing to talk to India, USA and Cuba for more vaccines,” he said.