Uganda opened Quality Chemicals, a joint venture with Indian drug maker Cipla, last year. President Museveni extended the invitation to Kenya, which has been suffering from high HIV/Aids prevalence in recent years.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka on Monday visited the plant and praised the technology transfer taking place at the complex. He said he would advise the relevant health authorities back home to consider sourcing ARVs from the firm.

The plant that was established at a cost of Sh4 billion, produces 100 million tablets of ARVs, mainly the Duovir-n brand, every month. It also produces the anti-malarial drug Lumatern.

Uganda’s Health minister Richard Nduhura said his country took the decision to manufacture generic ARVs after India, the traditional makers of generic drugs, ratified the Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights Accord under the World Trade Organisation.

Mr Nduhura said that what Africa needed now was to produce its own low-cost medicines, which were safe and effective, without relying on outside help.