Uganda Targets 210 Million Medical Gloves Annually as Namanve Factory Expands

What the report says

Uganda is moving to expand domestic production of medical gloves through a Shs60 billion upgrade at East African Medical Vitals (EAMV) in Namanve, Mukono District, according to Nile Post. The project is expected to lift annual output from about 80 million pairs to 210 million pairs, supporting the country’s efforts to cut reliance on imports and position itself as a supplier of medical consumables in regional markets.

The expansion was marked by the commissioning of EAMV’s second production line and the groundbreaking for two more lines by State Minister for Industry David Bahati. The government, through the Uganda Development Corporation, has already backed the company with Shs21.4 billion in equity and debt financing, and the UDC board has approved an additional Shs31 billion for the next phase. EAMV said the investment has helped improve operations, move the business toward profitability and build production capacity.

If completed as planned, the new lines are expected to create 328 jobs. The company also said it has invested in skills transfer, including training Ugandan engineers in Malaysia, to support local expertise in medical manufacturing. The broader effort fits Uganda’s industrial policy focus on import substitution and value addition, with possible benefits for hospitals, healthcare supply chains and export opportunities in neighbouring countries.