In a bid to acknowledge Uganda’s growing innovation landscape, a special delegation from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) on Friday conducted an official visit to the DEI BioPharma Ltd medical facility in Matuuga, Wakiso district.
The visit underscored a dual focus, celebrating the power of Ugandan innovation and emphasising the critical role of intellectual property (IP) rights in safeguarding that innovation for the nation’s future.
The URSB delegation, comprising Commissioner Gilbert Agaba, Deputy Commissioner James Lubwama, and other senior officials, including Senior Registration Officer Abraham Onyait Ageet, Principal Communications Officer Denis Nabende, and Project Support Officer Allen Asiimwe, was hosted by Mr. Hitesh Upreti, CEO of DEI BioPharma Ltd.
While Dr. Matthias Magoola was unavailable, Mr. Upreti ably represented him, leading the delegation on a comprehensive tour of DEI’s world-class facility and showcasing their impressive, patent-driven biotech work.
Local Innovation Impresses URSB
The URSB team expressed profound admiration for the scale and substance of the innovation unfolding at DEI BioPharma.
They specifically remarked that such advanced research and development is a rare sight locally, highlighting the unique and pioneering nature of DEI’s work within Uganda.
This recognition from Uganda’s official agency for patents, trademarks, and IP protection, according to Mr. Hitesh, validates DEI BioPharma’s position at the forefront of the nation’s scientific advancement.
As the custodian of intellectual property rights, URSB plays an indispensable role in ensuring that scientific breakthroughs and creative endeavours are adequately protected.
This protection is vital for incentivising further innovation, attracting investment, and enabling Ugandan enterprises to compete on a global stage.
Laying the Foundation for Greater Collaboration
The engaging discussions held during the visit have laid a crucial foundation for enhanced collaboration between government institutions and the scientific enterprise.
Such partnerships, Upreti noted, are essential for fostering an ecosystem where innovation can thrive, be protected, and ultimately contribute to Uganda’s socio-economic development.
“At DEI, we believe the future of Uganda lies not just in consuming innovation, but in creating and owning it,” Upreti said, reflecting the company’s core philosophy. This sentiment resonates strongly with national aspirations for self-reliance and global competitiveness.
The visit concluded with a strong sense of mutual appreciation between DEI BioPharma and URSB, symbolising a shared commitment to nurturing Uganda’s intellectual capital and ensuring that the country’s scientific and creative endeavours are recognised, protected, and leveraged for national progress.