Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has welcomed a team of American researchers at Nakasero who are partnering with Ugandan scientists to develop advanced treatments for cancer and diabetes derived from Uganda’s vast plant resources.
The collaboration represents a major step in transforming Uganda’s natural biodiversity into globally recognized medical innovations.
He emphasized that Africa has long possessed rich medicinal knowledge and natural resources, but these have not been fully harnessed to create value-added products.
The researchers are working closely with Ugandan counterparts to identify plant compounds with potential to fight non-communicable diseases, which are among the leading causes of death globally. According to the World Health Organization, diabetes and cancer are rising sharply in Africa, straining health systems and households.
The President reiterated government’s commitment to supporting research and innovation, stressing that scientific collaboration is central to Uganda’s long-term strategy for health security and economic transformation.
