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Quality Chemical Industries Limited (Qcil) has announced plans to boost its annual pharmaceutical output by more than 70%, following the acquisition of a USD 36 million (UGX 133 billion) debt facility from Stanbic Bank Uganda.
The loan will finance the construction of a second manufacturing plant on Qcil’s current site in Luzira, Kampala.
The company, Uganda’s largest producer of World Health Organisation (WHO) pre-qualified HIV/AIDS and malaria treatments, aims to raise its annual capacity from 1.4 billion to 2.4 billion tablets.
The expansion will also support Qcil’s move into new therapeutic areas such as injectable medicines and tuberculosis (TB) treatments.
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“This investment enables Qcil to scale its annual manufacturing capacity from 1.4 billion to 2.4 billion tablets, while introducing specialised production lines for TB treatments, injectables and other innovative products,” said Emmanuel Katongole, Qcil Chairman and Co-Founder.
“We are strengthening our capacity to serve not only Uganda but also the wider African market with high-quality, affordable medicines.”
Ajay Kumar Pal, Qcil’s Chief Executive Officer, said the new facility would be the first in the region to manufacture TB medicines.
“It will enable us to introduce specialised production for TB treatment, making Qcil the only TB medicine manufacturer in the region,” he said, adding, “We are grateful to Stanbic Bank Uganda for their commitment to facilitating Qcil’s growth journey.”
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Boosting regional self-reliance in healthcare
With products registered in 31 African countries, Qcil’s investment reflects a broader effort to create a self-sufficient pharmaceutical sector on the continent.
According to figures shared at the announcement, East African manufacturers currently meet only 10% of the demand for antiretroviral drugs and 19% for malaria treatment—despite 54 million cases reported annually and 5 million people living with HIV in the region.
TB figures are also high, with over 600,000 cases annually and no local production capacity for the required medication.
Paul Muganwa, Executive Director and Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Stanbic Bank Uganda, called Qcil a “vital link” in Uganda’s healthcare system.
“We are pleased to have delivered a sustainable finance solution that supports Qcil’s long-term vision in driving positive healthcare impact,” he said.
Stanbic CEO Mumba Kalifungwa described the transaction as “a milestone deal—ambitious in scale, catalytic in purpose.”
He said, “Transactions like these demonstrate what it truly means to drive Uganda’s growth: financing what matters, for the people who matter.”