Minister commends researchers for developing herbal medicines to treat respiratory diseases
KAMPALA, February 13, 2025 – Dr Monica Musenero, the Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation [STI], has congratulated Kazire Health Products Limited and Busitema University scientists for developing two herbal medicines meant to treat respiratory diseases.
“The Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat, Office of the President is pleased to announce that a clinical trial conducted in Uganda by the Makerere University Lung Institute [MLI] on two locally made herbal medicines has proven them safe and effective in treating acute respiratory illnesses,” she said days ago.
According to Musenero, the two herbal medicines that passed phase 2A of the clinical trial will be used to treat obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, influenza, and pneumonia, particularly in rural areas.
“This is a significant breakthrough for thousands of people in our country who suffer from obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, influenza, and pneumonia, especially in rural regions,” she said.
Musenero noted that acute respiratory tract infections [ARTIs] are among the five leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, responsible for approximately 3.9 million deaths each year.
“In Uganda, ARTIs remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five, accounting for around 9% of deaths and illnesses,” stated.
She added that over 14 million cases are reported annually in Uganda, with outpatients spending approximately Shs 12,000 shillings and inpatients around Shs 600,000 per treatment episode.
The minister explained that, historically, natural therapeutics [herbal medical products] in Uganda have been largely unstandardised, poorly packaged, and often associated with witchcraft, making it difficult for scientists to gain public trust. She urged scientists to always document their innovations and products in order to combat the myths surrounding herbal medicine.
“Although there are numerous medicinal concoctions derived from plants that have traditionally been used within Ugandan communities, with knowledge passed down through generations, their effectiveness, both positive and negative, remains undocumented, with no formal records available. This lack of evidence has hindered their broader acceptance and export potential, leaving herbalists largely reliant on subsistence livelihoods,” Musenero explained.
She also mentioned that the government had established the Clinical Trial of Natural Therapeutics [CONAT] platform to promote standardisation and improve the overall health of Ugandans. She called on scientists to make full use of this platform.
“Clinical trials aim to bridge this gap by providing scientific validation for herbal remedies, standardising production processes, and improving packaging. When proven effective, these efforts open up new economic opportunities, generate revenue for the country, and enable herbalists to move from subsistence to commercial production,” Musenero emphasised.
She concluded by stating, “It is time for Uganda to leverage its abundant flora to tap into the global market for natural therapeutics, which is valued at over US$ 216.4 billion.”
Meanwhile, Edward Kazaire, the Principal Investigator and renowned proprietor of Kazire Health Products Limited, expressed that the study, funded by the STI, marks a significant milestone in Uganda’s efforts to standardise and commercialise natural therapeutics as part of the pathogen economy.
He said that the phase 2A clinical trial, which took place from March 2023 to July 2024, involved 510 participants aged 18 years and older to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and effectiveness of the herbal medicines.
“Patients who received the herbal drugs alongside the standard of care experienced faster symptom resolution, with an average recovery time of 4 days compared to 6 days for those receiving only the standard of care,” Kazaire stated.
He added that both drugs demonstrated strong antiviral effects during laboratory tests. “For the few participants who tested positive for the virus, there was evidence that both herbal medicines cleared the virus more quickly than the standard treatment,” Kazaire observed.
Kazaire also noted that both herbal medicines showed a favourable safety profile, with no side effects in the majority of participants. “Only a few individuals experienced mild side effects, such as abdominal fullness, heartburn, and dizziness,” he said.
As the two herbal medicines await advanced assessment and certification by the National Drug Authority, Kazaire encouraged fellow researchers to continue their studies to optimise dosing and minimise side effects.
“The study highlights the success of a framework that allows for the rapid evaluation of multiple therapeutic products, which can be applied in other resource-limited settings,” Kazaire stressed.
He expressed his gratitude to the Government of Uganda for providing funding and technical guidance through the STI, as well as to the investigation team and the institutions involved in the CONAT programme, including the MLI, Uganda Virus Research Institute [UVRI], Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory [DGAL], Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute [NCRI], and Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine, among others, for their support.
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