Newslex Point News in Uganda, Uganda news
The two parties fought over who exactly owned patent rights of the drug but the president cleared the air when he said it belongs to Prof. Ogwang.
Addressing the nation on Friday, July 30, the president said they had briefed him about the arguments around the ownership.
When he listened to the arguments from both sides, he ruled that the patents and trademarks belong to the scientist who discovered them.
‘’If the institutions that employ these scientists want to benefit from their innovations, they should levy a sort of tax, what the technology transfer experts refer to as sharing of royalties,’’ he said.
In addition to that, he said even then much of the proceeds should go to the inventor so that our scientists are encouraged to discover more. More still, he said we must protect the intellectual property rights of the scientists involved.
Previously, the president had asked the lawyers suing Prof. Ogwang over Covidex ownership to stop.
The president’s intervention comes after Mbarara University claimed intellectual Property Rights for Covidex.
The university Vice Chancellor, Prof. Celestino Obua said they manufactured the drug on their premises and used public funds. Consequently, he said the drug belongs to the university.
Prof. Ogwang revealed that Jena Herbals Limited has the capacity to manufacture 30,000 bottles of Covidex per day. He further revealed that each bottle is sold at Shs7, 000.
High demand for the drug erupted about a month ago when the Ministry of Health approved Covidex as an additional treatment for Covid-19.
Check Also;
- Prof. Patrick Ogwang Applies For Covidex Trademark Ownership
- Professor Patrick Ogwang Threatens To Sue Mbarara University For Claiming Ownership Of Covidex
- National Drug Authority Advises Ugandans On How To Use Covidex
Please use the button below to contribute to Newslex Point, Inc. using a credit card or via PayPal.
![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
