Quality Chemicals Moves to Invest in Ethiopia as Company Chairman, Ethiopian Ambassador Discuss Cooperation

Quality Chemical Industries Ltd (QCIL), one of Uganda’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturers, is positioning itself for major expansion into Ethiopia following high-level discussions with the Ethiopian Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu.

The Ambassador visited QCIL’s headquarters in Luzira Industrial Park on November 26th, 2025, where she held a meeting and facility tour with QCIL Chairman and Co-founder, Mr. Emmanuel Katongole. Also present were QCIL CEO, Mr. Ajay Kumar Pal, and Strategy and Operations Analyst, Mr. Edward Katongole.

QCIL Chairman and Co-founder, Mr. Emmanuel Katongole (R), receives a gift pack of Ethiopian coffee from Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu.

During the meeting, both sides underscored the urgency for Africa to scale up local pharmaceutical production instead of relying heavily on imports. Mr. Katongole highlighted QCIL’s over 20-year journey, built with support from the Government of Uganda, CIPLA Ltd of India, and strategic investors, turning the company into a flagship African pharmaceutical brand.

He revealed that QCIL is ready to take its expertise to Ethiopia, confirming that a delegation had already visited Addis Ababa and held engagements with Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, H.E. Dr. Mekdes Daba, as well as senior officials from the Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC).

Ethiopian Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu (L) displays a QCIL product during her tour of the facility

He praised Ethiopia’s rapid transformation, large market size, and attractive investment environment, calling the country “a place of great opportunities.”

Ambassador Etsegenet welcomed QCIL’s investment interest, reiterating Ethiopia’s commitment to facilitating African investors and supporting local manufacturing. She emphasized the Ethiopian government’s priority sectors and pointed to the Kilinto Industrial Park—a state-of-the-art special economic zone dedicated to pharmaceutical production—which QCIL officials were introduced to during their visit.

Ethiopian Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu, waters a newly planted tree at QCIL headquarters as Chairman Emmanuel Katongole, CEO Ajay Kumar Pal (2nd R), and Strategy & Operations Analyst Edward Katongole look on.

The Ambassador later toured QCIL’s world-class facility in Luzira, commending its quality standards and production capacity. Both sides expressed firm commitment to seeing the investment materialize, pledging to follow through with the necessary processes.

The engagement concluded with a symbolic tree-planting ceremony at the QCIL compound, underscoring the growing partnership between Ethiopia and Uganda.

Ambassador Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu listens as QCIL CEO, Mr. Ajay Kumar Pal (L), walks her through the facility’s production processes.

This development marks a significant step in strengthening economic diplomacy between the two countries and reinforces Ethiopia’s standing as a leading destination for foreign direct investment. The country continues to attract investors in priority sectors including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, tourism, ICT, energy, and construction.