Dr Patrick Ogwang, a pharmacist from Mbarara University, also one of the brains behind the research said that the move comes at a time when malaria is claiming a big number of people. He also noted that that majority of Ugandans cannot access medicine.

Statistics show that malaria prevalence has reduced from 42% in 2009 to less than 19%. The number of people who die of malaria on a daily basis has also reduced from 300 to 140.

Ogwang revealed that according to their research, they found that Uganda contains 75% of natural plants which can be developed into natural medicines.

The managing director of DEI Group of Companies International, the organization behind the research and production of the medicine, Mathias Magoola, said that there is evidence that there has never been a malaria treatment solution that has ever originated from Africa.

Magoola who is also a chemist said that according to research, Africa spends $25b per year on treatment of malaria; adding that the development of DEI anti-malarials has the potential of replacing ACTs.

The outgoing health minister Dr Elioda Tumwesigye said government is committed to support the innovators to help them do the necessary clinical trials that are required and help them file for patent protection.

"We want to work with WHO to ensure that the clinical trials are done and an active chemical ingredient is identified so that the medicine can be produced internationally,” he said.

Tumwesigye said government has been able to promote the Indoor residual spraying (IRS) and distribution of Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and this has led to a reduction in malaria prevalence.

Agencies