Ethiopia has stepped up engagements with Uganda’s Quality Chemical Industries Limited (QCIL) as discussions on the pharmaceutical manufacturer’s planned investment in the country continue to gather momentum.

Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu, held a follow-up meeting with QCIL Chairman and Co-founder Emmanuel Katongole and Chief Executive Officer Ajay Kumar Pal to discuss advancing the company’s proposed investment in Ethiopia’s pharmaceutical sector.

The discussions focused on the strategic investment and the importance of developing self-reliant African healthcare solutions through increased local pharmaceutical manufacturing.

The meeting builds on previous engagements between the Ethiopian government and QCIL aimed at exploring opportunities for the Ugandan company to establish pharmaceutical manufacturing operations in Ethiopia.

In November 2025, Ambassador Etsegenet visited QCIL’s headquarters at Luzira Industrial Park in Kampala, where she met with the company’s leadership and toured its state-of-the-art production facility. During the visit, both sides expressed commitment to pursuing the proposed investment.

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QCIL Chairman and Co-founder Emmanuel Katongole previously indicated the company’s interest in investing in Ethiopia, revealing that its team had visited the country and held discussions with Health Minister Dr. Mekdes Daba and officials from the Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC).

Ethiopia has been positioning itself as an investment destination for pharmaceutical manufacturing, with the government promoting local production to reduce dependence on imported medicines and strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

The country’s Kilinto Industrial Park, a specialised industrial zone dedicated to pharmaceutical manufacturing, is among the facilities intended to attract investment into the sector.

The continued engagements underscore growing economic cooperation between Uganda and Ethiopia, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing, while highlighting the potential for African companies to expand across the continent and strengthen regional healthcare supply chains.

If realised, QCIL’s proposed investment would represent another step towards expanding Africa’s pharmaceutical production capacity and advancing efforts to build more resilient and self-sufficient healthcare systems.