Drug authority approves locally developed ulcer medicine

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A locally developed ulcer treatment has been approved by the National Drug Authority (NDA), marking an important step for the country’s health sector and its push toward homegrown medical solutions.

The treatment, created by Ugandan researchers, underwent evaluation to ensure it meets the required standards for safety, quality and effectiveness. Approval by the NDA means it is now legally recognised and can be used in managing ulcers, a condition that affects many people across the country. For years, most ulcer treatments have been imported, often making them expensive or less accessible to ordinary patients.

Speaking about the breakthrough, Dr Stephen Lutoti underscored the importance of local innovation, noting that the goal has always been to provide a solution that is both effective and accessible to Ugandans.

Lutoti is the secretary for the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda and a lecturer in the College of Health Sciences at Makerere University.

In an interview with New Vision Online, he said developing medicine within the country is not just about treatment but also about building confidence in local science and reducing reliance on foreign products.

“Most of the ulcer medicines we have in this country come from foreign communities; with our local input, we shall keep making ours,” he said.

This development reflects growing confidence in local innovation. It shows that Ugandan scientists and researchers are capable of producing solutions that meet national regulatory standards.

According to Lutoti, in a healthcare system where access and affordability are ongoing challenges, locally developed medicine has the potential to reduce dependence on imports and lower costs over time.

The expert called for support from the Government to boost trust, noting that locally made medicines take a long time to be trusted by the consumers who are too used to ones from abroad.

“There is also the issue of public trust and adoption. New treatments often take time to gain acceptance among both medical professionals and patients. Doctors will want to see consistent results, while patients may be cautious about trying something new. Proper awareness, clear information, and continued monitoring will be important in building confidence in the treatment,” he said.

To scale up production will be critical. Lutoti noted that a locally developed solution can only make a difference if it is produced in sufficient quantities and distributed effectively across the country, including in rural areas where access to healthcare is often limited. This will require coordination between developers, regulators, healthcare providers, and possibly government support.

He said that despite these challenges, the approval represents progress. To him, it signals a shift toward strengthening local capacity in research and healthcare innovation and also sets a precedent for other researchers who may be working on treatments for different conditions, showing that it is possible to move from idea to official approval within Uganda.

“All this demonstrates that local solutions can play a meaningful role in addressing national health challenges,” he said.

Dr Neithan Muyinda, working with Edico 360 development and Eco-pharm as a trainer and mentor, said, "Apart from malaria, ulcers are one of the biggest health issues affecting scores of patients."

“Lutoti has come up with a big solution to a big challenge,” he added, stating that the available local medicine for ulcers is produced by non-medics who add too many concoctions, which affect patients in the end.

Muyinda said in local communities, people are suffering from ulcers due to either poor health or diet. “It is a big milestone for us who are on the ground; we pray the government adopts it like Covidex, and then life moves on better,” he said.

Fred Kabuye, working in the office of the public relations office of the National Drug Authority, confirmed that the ELOCID mixture has been approved and implored him to go and popularise the drug.

However, he warned that some local innovators have kept on manipulating, falsifying, and overexaggerating the medicines they have. He said that drugs are like human lives; wrong handling can mess up everything.