Solidarity projects in Uganda and Nigeria

The Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) plans to use up to 7.3 million litres of alcohol in the stores of their members to produce affordable sanitisers in efforts to fight the spread of coronavirus.

In turn, the government has committed to support their effort to maximum production by exerting waivers on VAT and excise duty. For this purpose, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and the National Drugs Authority (NDA) have pledged to fast track the registration of quality hand sanitisers and increase surveillance to ensure fake sanitisers are not released onto the market. Currently, there are only two companies certified to make sanitisers (Saraya and Go hi-tech), but as of last week 48 companies had applied for certification to make the product.

In Nigeria, the food company Honeywell Flour Mills is working with the government to feed 200,000 low-income families by providing packs containing various food products in a sufficient quantity to feed an average family for a whole month.