Uganda’s Industrialization Leap:The Pathogen Economy Biosciences Park

The Pathogen Economy Biosciences Park, which recently held its groundbreaking ceremony, is one of the six zones in NEC T6 Industrial and Business Park, a vast industrial park owned and managed by the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC). Located in Katuugo, Kakooge-Nakasongola District, along the Kampala-Gulu highway, NEC T6 Industrial and Business Park was allocated to NEC by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA) and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

The park spans 1 square mile (640 acres) and features six distinct zones, including:

• Pathogen Economy Biosciences Park

• Agricultural Processing

• Medical Technology Industries

• Light Manufacturing

• Heavy Manufacturing

• Support Services

In a significant move, NEC allocated 50 acres of the Pathogen Economy Biosciences Park to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, demonstrating its commitment to supporting Uganda’s scientific and technological advancement.

On February 27, 2025, Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the Pathogen Economy Biosciences Park, marking a significant milestone in Uganda’s journey towards industrialization, self-reliance, and scientific excellence.

The Pathogen Economy Biosciences Park is expected to reduce Uganda’s reliance on imported pharmaceuticals, which currently account for 99% of the country’s medical supplies. The park will serve as a one-stop center for research, development, and industrial manufacturing of biomedical products targeting human, animal, and plant health.

Planned facilities within NEC T6 Industrial and Business Park include administrative blocks, one-stop centers, internal container depots, warehouses, showrooms, residential apartments, commercial areas, hotels, schools, and hospitals. The plot size is 5 acres, and investors can acquire land through leasing, joint ventures, or renting completed factories.