Govt seeks Shs248.4b for vaccines factory

Government is seeking $70m (Shs248.4b) to finance the construction of a local Covid-19 vaccines factory in the country.

 The Finance minister, Mr Matia Kasaija, however, refused to disclose details of the investors behind the deal even as he told lawmakers on the Parliament’s Covid-19  taskforce chaired by Bugweri MP Abdu Katuntu that a group of undisclosed scientists is demanding $14 million (about Shs50b) to embark on the project.

 Mr Kasaija, who was appearing before the committee to respond to members’ queries on delayed procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, explained that plans are underway to construct a local vaccines manufacturing factory in order to shield citizens from a pandemic that has so far killed more than 2,000 people in Uganda.

 “Our scientists that I am in touch with very seriously have asked me for $14 million (about Shs50b) to begin this job, ” Mr Kasaija said.

 “They have already assembled the plan but they need that money to buy the materials to put up the factory. The factory, I think [needs] $70 million (about Shs248b) but they need that $14 million to bring in other partners from outside the country.”

 He added: “Before the factory is completed and producing vaccines, we need to bring in solutions to help us.”

 When Daily Monitor asked for details of the scientists behind the planned multi-billion vaccines factory, Mr Kasaija said: “The steps have already been taken but I don’t want to go into details right now. You can tell the country that government is determined to have vaccines manufactured here in Uganda.”

Availability of vaccines

Members of the House taskforce, however, argued that in the fight against the pandemic, availability of vaccines are a quicker solution to resuscitating the strained economy. 

The MPs demanded quick solution to the vaccines crisis and pigeon-holed the planned vaccines project as a long-term venture that doesn’t solve the urgent needs of a people at war with coronavirus.                                                                                   

“This is not ideal because the factory is just going to be set up and we don’t know how long it will take for government to set it up. So it is best if government finds money and we are sure it can be got,” Mr Karim Masaba, the MP of Industrial Division Mbale City, said.

 The minister revealed that the government will continue hunting more vaccines through available channels so that Ugandans are fully vaccinated as the plans for factory are pursued.

 “In terms of vaccinating people, we look for resources in the country and together with our good friends, we will look wherever we can to get the vaccines for our people. But don’t forget there are people who don’t want us to stabilise. If we took a decision as government that will get everybody vaccinated, then we will find a way of vaccinating and how to find the money,” Mr Kasaija said.

  Uganda needs a total of 45 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to vaccinate 21.9 million people.

To date, the government has only vaccinated more than 1 million people using donated vaccines.

 On account of global shortages and challenges in the procurement of vaccines, in May, the government gave Unicef Shs38b to procure undisclosed number of Johnson and Johnson and others from Covax vaccines. 

While officially opening the World Health Summit convened at Munyonyo Resort in Kampala on June 27,   President Museveni said a locally developed Covid-19 vaccine would be ready by fall of this year.

He indicated that the vaccine was being developed by researchers from Makerere University.

 The President also indicated the researchers had reached stage five and would be at stage eight by November. Manufacturing a vaccine, according to the World Health Organisation, involves nine stages. However, it’s not clear whether this is the same scientists, Mr Kasaija said, asked for billions of shillings.

 More relief funds needed

 The lawmakers have also demanded that government allocates more funds to cater for vulnerable persons struggling to survive as a result of the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown.

On June 18, the President instituted a 42-day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of infections.  

The government yesterday paid 53,000 out of the 501,107 households from a total of 16 vulnerable groups in Kampala metropolitan area, cities and other municipalities.

Each of the targeted household will receive Shs100,000 as relief fund. The money comes 21 days into the lockdown and majority of the vulnerable people such as PWDs were not considered due to financial constraints.

 The MPs want the government to increase the number of beneficiaries and the budget for vulnerable people. They asked the government to pick money from the contingency fund, something Mr Henry Musasizi, the state minister in charge of general duties, opposed.

 “We may not go there because Covid-19 is still with us. That is why I am very passionate about defending the contingency fund. So because of the existing conditions, we may even require money under contingency than the provision we [currently] have,” Mr Musasizi said.