President Museveni has officially commissioned Piston Medical Ltd (PML), a pharmaceutical factory specializing in the production of Small Volume Parenterals (SVPs) and Large Volume Parenterals (LVPs).
The state-of-the-art facility, located in the Namanve Industrial Area, marks a significant milestone in Uganda’s quest for self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Piston Medical Ltd (PML) will produce high-quality parenteral medicines, including critical care products such as IV fluids and antibiotics, which are essential for emergency medical care across Africa.
During the commissioning ceremony in Namanve, President Museveni commended Benjamin Kiiza and his team at Piston Medical for their bold efforts in manufacturing and distributing life-saving medicines, emphasizing the positive impact on both local and export markets across Africa.
President Museveni expressed his gratitude to Benjamin, stating that he takes great joy in seeing young people embrace his message on wealth creation and take transformative action.
“I am always pleased when I see young people who have listened to our message on wealth creation and the four sectors to achieve it.”
The president praised Benjamin Kiiza and his team for venturing into the manufacturing and distribution of medicines both locally and internationally.
“I commend Benjamin Kiiza and his team at Piston Medical for entering the manufacturing and distribution of medicines for both the local and export markets in the African region.” President Museveni.
Kiiza, CEO of Piston Medical, explained to President Museveni that Piston Medical Ltd is a backward integration of their trading activities under VVSAOL Investments Ltd. Since 2008, VVSAOL has been engaged in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, sundries, and medical equipment.
He noted that around 2020, they ventured into the manufacturing of IV fluids, starting with a business case study conducted by KPMG.
“We carried out a market study across three East African countries including Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. This was followed by a business case study conducted by Simon-Kucher and Partners from Silicon Valley, which covered Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, the DRC, and South Sudan.”
Kiiza explained that the studies conducted assured both themselves and their financiers that the project was bankable.
He highlighted their product range, noting that Piston Medical produces Large Volume Parenteral (LVP) products such as Normal Saline 0.9% w/v, Ringer’s Lactate, Dextrose 50%, Dextrose 10%, Dextrose 5%, Dextrose and Normal Saline, Mannitol 20%, Levofloxacin 100ml, Metronidazole 100ml, and Paracetamol 100ml.
He also mentioned their production capacity of 4,000 bottles per hour. Additionally, their Small Volume Parenteral (SVP) products include Magnesium Sulphate 50% (10ml vial), Sodium Bicarbonate 8.4% (10ml vial), Caffeine Citrate 10mg USP (2ml), Bupivacaine HCL 5mg in Dextrose Injection 80mg (2ml), Pethidine 50mg USP (2ml), and Tranexamic Acid USP (50mg/ml, 5ml), with a production capacity of 3,000 vials per hour.
Kiiza also detailed their primary packaging materials (PPM), explaining that their LVP products are manufactured using polypropylene (PP) plastic, which can withstand high temperatures of 121°C during sterilization, ensuring a high FO value that meets the WHO recommendation of FO ≥ 8.
They also use Euro caps (double caps), which are essential for producing high-grade, safe, and reliable products.
In terms of technology and innovation, Kiiza noted that Piston Medical employs advanced technologies such as Injection Stretch Blow Molding (ISBM), Laminar Air Flow, and Online Air Particle Counters to maintain product quality at all stages of production.
