Covilyce-1, the herbal remedy from Gulu University took first place among the goods displayed at the recently finished 17th Mwanza East Africa Trade Fair (MEATF) held at Nyamagana stadium in Mwanza, Tanzania.
The herbal remedy for corona virus was one of the more than 200 items on display at the trade show, which got underway on August 26 and was organized by the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (TCCIA).
The Nyamagana district commissioner in Mwanza, Amina Makilagi, declared Covilyce-1 to be the best-exhibited product overall during the expo’s closing ceremony over the weekend.
The university’s success in herbal research, according to Makilagi, is not surprising given that it introduced a public innovation that is solution-based.
She urged other colleges in the area to share their solution-based research rather than retaining it as simple prototypes for internal use.
The accreditation, according to Dr. Alice Lamwaka Veronica, the project’s principal investigator, demonstrates faith in the university’s herbal product.
Vice-chancellor of Gulu University, Prof. George Openjuru Ladaah praised the team for displaying the school’s capacity for innovation in practice and research.
Later, the university received a trophy and a certificate from the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce for its top efforts.
More than 350 people attended the exhibition, of which 50 were foreign exhibitors.
After exhibiting the Covilyce-1 product at the 21st East African Community Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair, Gulu University also finished second in Kenya the previous year.
The herbal medicine was unveiled last year by researchers from the faculty of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Studies (PharmBiotec), who claim it can treat Covid-19 symptoms in between 12 and 72 hours.
Asthma, hypertension, peptic ulcers, diabetes, and sickle cell disease can all be treated with the herbal remedy, claims lead researcher Dr. Lamwaka.
