President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today welcomed the establishment of the HUVET Bio-Science Park, describing it as a major step towards Uganda’s vaccine sovereignty and its ambition to become a regional leader in biotechnology.
“I am very happy to receive this wonderful group of investors from Iran. I welcome you, and I will support you,” President Museveni said during a meeting with a team of engineers and doctors led by Eng. Hashem Azimi, at State House, Entebbe.
The proposed HUVET Bio-Science Park is expected to spearhead Uganda’s roadmap towards local vaccine production, veterinary biotechnology, and scientific innovation while reducing dependence on imported vaccines and biological products.
During the meeting, Eng. Azimi recounted his first encounter with President Museveni in 2008 during the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit in Kampala. He said the President challenged him with a simple but significant question about whether his company intended to venture into manufacturing.
“At that time, I answered honestly and told you that manufacturing was part of our long-term vision. We were not yet ready, but it was our destination,” Eng. Azimi said.
“Your Excellency, today, 18 years later, I stand before you to fulfill that promise. This project is not simply the construction of another factory. It is the realization of a vision that has matured through years of experience, investment, scientific collaboration, and a deep belief in Uganda’s potential.”
Eng. Azimi noted that after living and working in Uganda for nearly two decades, he had witnessed the country’s economic transformation under President Museveni’s leadership but also observed the heavy economic burden caused by livestock diseases and the country’s reliance on imported vaccines.
He explained that rather than asking what Uganda could do for the investors, the team instead asked what they could build for Uganda, an idea that gave birth to the HUVET Bio-Science Park.
“Our vision goes far beyond manufacturing vaccines. We seek to establish East Africa’s first fully integrated biotechnology hub dedicated to animal health, food security, epidemic preparedness, biotechnology research and high-value exports,” he said.
According to Eng. Azimi, the project aims to position Uganda as a regional centre of excellence in veterinary biotechnology, serving not only Uganda but the wider African continent. He also informed President Museveni that land for the HUVET Bio-Science Park has already been secured in Mpigi District, marking a significant milestone towards the implementation of the project.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of State for Animal Industry in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Bright Rwamirama, together with engineers and medical professionals involved in the proposed biotechnology project.
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