In Summary: Dei BioPharma CEO Dr Mathias Magoola has challenged young people in Kamuli to embrace innovation, commercial agriculture and government empowerment programmes, pledging to connect them to employment and business opportunities through the company’s expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.
Kamuli, Uganda — Dei BioPharma Chief Executive Officer Dr Mathias Magoola has rallied young people in Kamuli District to change their mindset, embrace innovation and take advantage of emerging employment and business opportunities to improve their livelihoods and contribute to national development.
Magoola made the call during the Kamuli District Youth Mindset and Innovations Summit held at Kasambira School Grounds under the theme “Empowering young people for inclusive wealth creation and sustainable development.”
The summit brought together government leaders, youth representatives, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to discuss practical ways of redirecting young people’s energy towards innovation, productivity and wealth creation.
Addressing the participants, Magoola urged the youth to take advantage of government empowerment programmes while developing practical skills and pursuing opportunities in emerging industries.
“Government has many programs for empowerment which you should embrace through mindset change. Join us at Dei BioPharma in shaping and advancing the future and challenges of healthcare focusing on providing affordable treatments that were previously inaccessible due to high costs through groundbreaking vaccines and medicines, made in Africa for the world,” Dr Magoola rallied.
He highlighted the opportunities emerging from the Dei Group of Companies’ pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing investments in Matugga and Busambu, alongside planned industrial park facilities.
According to Magoola, the expanding operations are expected to support employment, income generation and business development while contributing to the production of medicines and vaccines targeting healthcare needs in Africa.
He said the investments would also create opportunities for African scientists to participate in research and development rather than remain dependent on technologies developed elsewhere.
“Beyond these innovations these achievements will serve as an inspiration and create role models for African scientists, to lead research and development, instead of remaining at the receiving end of scientific advancements enabling them to take the lead in research and development instead of relying on obsolete imported technologies,” he added.
Kamuli leaders challenge youth to embrace agriculture
Kamuli District Council Chairperson Kaloli Dhizaala challenged the District Youth Council to organise a benchmarking visit to Dei BioPharma’s Busambu facilities in Namasagali to understand the opportunities emerging from the pharmaceutical industry’s supply chain.
He urged the youth to consider using the district’s 18-acre piece of land in Namasagali to grow cassava for the factory market, describing agricultural production as a potential source of income and enterprise development.
“The Dei factories is a growing opportunity for progress. With already District Youth Council acres of land, you can take on cassava growing market to change the Youth perspective. However you need to maintain high standards, take on certified seeds and optimal agronomic practices to meet international market,” Dhizaala challenged.
Dhizaala also cautioned young people against concentrating exclusively on white-collar employment, political handouts and unproductive social activities, urging them to pursue practical economic ventures.
Chief Administrative Officer Kamuli Ben Lawrence Marley commended Dei BioPharma for supporting the youth summit and encouraged participants to take advantage of the opportunities associated with the company’s investments.
“Dei BioPharma isn’t just a project, it’s an industry that’s bringing development, market opportunities, and healthcare solutions right to our doorstep and when you are honored and supported by the CEO it shows his personal commitment, passion and desire to fetch you up so count yourselves lucky and pay him back by becoming innovative enterprising youth who transform their communities,” Marley urged.
Magoola named Youth Development Ambassador
Kamuli District Youth Council Chairperson Sepiryano Ngobi thanked Dei BioPharma for providing financial support that enabled the summit to take place, describing Magoola’s involvement as a demonstration of commitment to youth development.
Ngobi subsequently announced Magoola as a Youth Development Ambassador in recognition of his support for the district’s youth empowerment activities. He described the summit as a wake-up call for young people to redirect their energies, change their attitudes towards wealth creation and make productive use of available government programmes.
“Government and Mzee has put out many opportunities and programs for young people but with a fixated mindset, the youth just squander or look on instead of adding value and investing they will but smart phones, take the girl/boyfriend out splash the PDM, Emyooga or Youth Livelihood Funds on luxuries the reason we organized this Mindset change summit,” Ngobi explained.
The summit was also addressed by First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga, National Youth Member of Parliament Mercy Kanyesigye, National Youth Council Chairperson Daniel Ongom and entrepreneur Johnson Basangwa.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
