Francis Kitaka, the co-founder of Quality Chemicals dies

Francis Xavier Kitaka, one of the founding directors of Quality Chemical Limited, the firm that later partnered with the Indian giant Cipla to form pharmaceutical manufacturing company CiplaQCIL, has died.

The cause of Kitaka’s death is not yet confirmed.

On September 24, 2018, CiplaQCIL will become the first privately founded Ugandan company to list on the Uganda Securities Exchange — arguably a milestone from its humble beginnings in Katwe slum.

CIPLAQCIL, is the only company in Sub-Saharan Africa that is authorised to manufacture triple therapy antiretroviral drugs.

According to information on Wikipedia, Kitaka was born in 1935, in a family of six siblings, to Celestino Mayambala Musoke and Monica Musoke.

He  attended Rubaga Primary School, starting in 1944.

In 1948 Kitaka was admitted to Bukalasa Minor Seminary, but was expelled in 1950, for wearing bathroom sandals to Church.

The following year, 1951, he was admitted to Rubaga Boys' Secondary School, where he sat his middle school examinations in 1952.

He joined St. Mary's College Kisubi in 1952 and left in 1954 after sitting his O-Level examinations (Cambridge Ordinary School Certificate Examinations).

 In 1955, he was admitted to the Faculty of Science at Makerere University for the intermediate course for two years. This was equivalent to Advanced Level (A Level) studies.

In 1957 Kitaka joined the Department of Veterinary Medicine, to study for the Diploma in Veterinary Medicine, which he obtained in 1958.

In 1961 he received a scholarship from the Government of Uganda to study Biochemistry at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and upon graduation, Kitaka became the first African biochemist in East Africa.

In 1961, prior to his departure for Scotland for further studies, he worked at the Animal Health Research Centre in Entebbe. While in Scotland, he worked at Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen for eight years, before returning to Uganda in 1968.

Upon his return, he worked at the Tick Control Department in the Ministry of Agriculture, as an Entomologist.

 In 1972, Kitaka joined Wellcome Uganda Limited, as the sales manager.

In 1989, Kitaka and two colleagues, Edward Martin and Randall Tierney, bought Wellcome East Africa Limited and renamed it Cooper Uganda Limited.

In 1994, they bought the building housing their offices and rebranded to MTK Holdings Limited, representing the first letter of each of their last names.

In 1997, with three more investors; Mr George Baguma, Mr Frederick Kitaka and Mr Emmanuel Katongole, the group of six investors created Quality Chemicals Limited (QCL), a company whose initial objective was to import generic drugs, both veterinary and human into the country.

In 2003, the shareholders in QCL learned through the Indian High Commissioner to Uganda, that Cipla, the Indian pharmaceutical company was looking for a serious pharmaceutical company to partner with in Uganda. They flew to India and signed partnership and marketing agreements. That was the beginning of the importation of Cipla-manufactured pharmaceuticals into Uganda.

They convinced Cipla to build a factory to manufacture ARVs in Uganda.

In Bunamwaya, Kisingiri Zone, Kitaka has been a celebrated philanthropist who single-handedly financed  various social service works, according to Mr Muhammad Kayizzi, the village council chairman.

He tarmacked a section of a community road that passes near his palatial home.