As the pharmaceutical world recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, Uganda’s Quality Chemical Industries Limited (Qcil) is proving that consistency drives long-term success.
For the financial year ending March 2025, Qcil posted a neat 22 percent jump in net profit to Shs40.7 billion, riding on an 18 percent boost in gross profit to Shs108.5 billion.
Revenue stayed almost flat at Shs267.1 billion, signaling that while the market is tough, Qcil has kept its footing with steady sales and smart pricing.
And instead of resting on these healthy profits, Qcil is gearing up to grow bigger and bolder. It has its production capacity and let it branch into new medicines like tuberculosis drugs and injectables — areas with bigger margins and bigger impact.
This isn’t just about making more pills. It’s a strategic move to strengthen Qcil’s role as a key player in Africa’s fight against disease — and a sign it is thinking long term in a market that can be so unpredictable.
Shareholders are smiling too. Qcil’s dividend payout more than doubled, a welcome reward for investors who’ve stuck around through the ups and downs.
The expansion blueprint
With the ink barely dry on a $36 million loan, Qcil is gearing up to break ground on a second manufacturing plant in Luzira.
This new facility won’t just double their tablet output from 1.4 billion to 2.4 billion annually—it will also bring new product lines to the mix, including tuberculosis treatments, injectables, and what the company calls “innovative medicines.”
If all goes well, Qcil expects be a rising star in Africa’s therapeutic manufacturing scene.
Ugandan enterprises urged to explore regional oil and gas opportunities“This expansion will enable us to do more for our patients, our people, and our economy,” said Qcil Chairman Emmanuel Katongole.
This move isn’t happening in a vacuum. Since COVID-19, there’s been a global push—especially in Africa—to build local pharmaceutical capacity, cutting dependency on imports and boosting health sovereignty.
Beyond the boardroom, Qcil is right at the frontline of Uganda’s battle against HIV and malaria, producing life-saving ARVs and antimalarials—not in small, high-priced batches, but in WHO-prequalified volumes ready for wide distribution across Uganda and beyond.
“We are saving lives by ensuring consistent access to essential medicines,” Katongole stressed
Dividends and discipline
Qcil’s board approved a dividend of Shs13.5 per share—more than double last year’s Shs5.7—highlighting not just rising profits but disciplined cashflow management.
In a region where many public companies tend to squirrel away earnings for “rainy days,” Qcil’s move signals a new level of maturity and confidence.
“This strong performance reflects our operational focus and public health mission,” said Ajay Kumar Pal, CEO of Qcil. “Our success is a testament to our team’s dedication.”
Ultimately, the drug manufacturer paid Shs19.8 billion in taxes, up from Shs15.1 billion the previous year.
