The Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute, in partnership with the Batwa community, local leaders, and other stakeholders, has developed four herbal-based medicines from plant species found in Kisoro District to treat common ailments.
The formulations, currently in the testing phase, include Vula-Derm powder for treating wounds, Kalit powder and Bricof syrup for cough relief, and Venol syrup for malaria management.
The breakthrough was announced during a two-day workshop held earlier this week at Mubano Hotel in Kisoro Municipality under the Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing (ABS) project. The event brought together Batwa representatives, district officials, and legal experts to discuss the ethical use and protection of indigenous knowledge.
Dr. Francis Omujal, a senior researcher at the institute, said the medicines were developed from herbs submitted by the Batwa and other communities, including Veronica amygdalina, Aloe vera, Eucalyptus, Buricoti, and Solanum nigrum L, among others.
He emphasized that the institute’s role is to provide scientific validation for traditional medicinal claims, transforming indigenous remedies into standardized commercial products capable of saving lives.
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Harriet Ityang, Assistant Commissioner at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, urged the Batwa to establish clear agreements for accessing their traditional knowledge. She advised them to form organized groups, with district support, to ensure fair benefit-sharing in line with the Nagoya Protocol.
Kisoro District Principal Chief Administrative Officer, Rukundo Manase, commended the stakeholders for their collective efforts and encouraged the community to conserve the environment as a source of future medicinal resources.
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District LCV Chairperson Abel Bizimana applauded the initiative, saying Kisoro should be ready to reap long-term benefits from the project.
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Members of the Batwa community who attended the workshop expressed excitement and pledged to continue supporting herbal medicine development.
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The newly formulated medicines are undergoing efficacy and safety tests and are expected to be registered with the National Drug Authority and Uganda Registration Services Bureau within the next 3 to 6 months to secure approval and protect the Batwa’s intellectual property.
