Fight over Covidex drug rages on

Fight over Covidex drug rages on. Greed has manifested itself among Ugandan mafiasoz (read a Abagezzi) the smart dealers in Kampala. Having realized the exorbitant profits brought about by Covidex; the smart dealers; the mafias in Kampala have mounted pressure on Prof. Patrick Ogwang so that they can own his Covidex.

Fresh reports reaching our news desk indicate that Prof Patrick Ogwang has been sued before the High Court in Kampala, for claiming ownership of Covidex, a herbal drug used as a supportive treatment for Covid-19.

Mbu the Covidex producer has been sued by a concerned lawyer, a one George William Alenyo, and Christian Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture, Industry, Trade and Tourism.

Core to the petitioners’ concern is that Prof Ogwang, a civil servant, developed the herbal medicinal drug using government funds at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), alongside his colleagues and yet he is single handedly claiming its patent rights as an individual.

“A declaration that the Covidex drug is a proprietary patent for the government of Uganda, having been developed on government funds, premises, and laboratories and by government public servants paid from the Consolidated Fund,” the petitioners plead to court.

Reviewing the petitioners plea, you will realize that the petitioners are idlers; seeking gains without sweat. If they were serious and concerned, they would first sue the perpetrators and embezzlers of COVID-19 funds, which now range in trillions.  In fact, the petitioners are calling for serious penalty against their malicious prosecution.

In June, the National Drug Authority (NDA) approved Covidex as supportive treatment for those suffering from Covid-19.

Covidex was already selling in pharmacies but the NDA endorsement in the midst of the COVID-19 second wave has seen the price of the product rise.  Tension has risen because proceeds from the sales appear to be going to Jena Laboratories Uganda Limited owned by Prof. Ogwang and not his employer; Mbarara University of Science and Technology.