Equity Bank Uganda has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting local manufacturing after its Board Committee visited Microhaem Scientifics (MHS) to assess the company’s operations and ongoing expansion.
The visit, held on 7 August 2026, was led by Equity Bank Uganda Board Chair Henry Rugamba and Managing Director Gift Shoko, alongside senior bank executives. The delegation toured Microhaem’s production facility in Ntinda, Kampala, before visiting the company’s 20-acre Phase II expansion site at Namanve Industrial Park.
The engagement highlighted the growing partnership between the two organisations, with Equity Bank Uganda having committed more than USD 50 million in financing to support Microhaem’s expansion, increase production capacity and strengthen its quality systems.
The financing is also helping Microhaem expand Uganda’s ability to manufacture essential medical products locally and reduce reliance on imported diagnostics and pharmaceuticals.
Founded by Ugandan scientist Dr Cedric Akwesigye, Microhaem Scientifics was established on the belief that Africa should be able to produce many of the medical products it needs rather than depend heavily on overseas supply chains.
Over the years, the company has developed diagnostic products designed to withstand the conditions commonly found in East Africa. Its Pf-Xpat malaria rapid diagnostic test kits, for example, are moisture-resistant and can remain stable at temperatures of up to 40°C, making them suitable for health facilities where refrigeration may not be readily available.
The company has also developed products for HIV testing, sickle-cell screening and molecular diagnostics.
Microhaem’s work comes against the backdrop of significant health challenges in Uganda and across the region, particularly malaria, HIV and sickle-cell disease. By manufacturing diagnostic products locally, the company aims to improve access to reliable testing while strengthening the country’s health security.
The company has grown significantly from its original Ntinda facility and is now developing a much larger manufacturing complex at Namanve Industrial Park.
The Phase II project will feature a four-level manufacturing block measuring 40 metres by 160 metres, dedicated utility systems, a plastics factory for syringes and other consumables, research and development facilities and specialist accommodation.
Civil works on the main manufacturing block are expected to be completed by December 2026, followed by approximately one year of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) fit-out. The first validated products from the new facility are expected within about 18 months.
Speaking during the visit, Rugamba said Microhaem demonstrated the potential of African businesses to develop solutions to the continent’s challenges.
“What we saw today is African capability in action. Microhaem is not waiting for solutions to be shipped from elsewhere; it is building them here,” he said.
Rugamba added that Equity Bank was proud to have supported the company with more than USD 50 million, describing local financing for local manufacturers as critical to strengthening Uganda’s health security and economic resilience.
Shoko said the partnership reflected Equity Group’s broader strategy of directing capital towards industries that create jobs, strengthen local production and reduce dependence on imports.
“Through our Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan, we deliberately channel capital into industries that reduce import dependence and create skilled jobs,” he said. “Supporting Microhaem Scientifics is a clear expression of that strategy. We are not merely lenders; we are partners in building the industrial backbone Uganda and East Africa need.”
The support forms part of Equity Group’s USD 6 billion Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), which focuses on private-sector growth, industrialisation, cross-border value chains and financial inclusion across the continent.
For Akwesigye, the partnership with Equity Bank has been instrumental in turning Microhaem’s long-term ambitions into reality.
“Fourteen years of rigorous development, testing and iteration have brought us to this point. Equity Bank’s confidence and sustained financing have been decisive,” he said.
Akwesigye said the company’s goal was to manufacture high-quality medical products in Uganda for the local market and eventually export them across Africa.
