During his recent meeting with Members of Parliament on the Science, Innovation and Technology committee recently at Makerere University, Samuel Mugarura, a former student at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity revealed that he is seeking $18m (about sh66b) to set up a mini-plant to start manufacturing teargas for commercial purposes.
The former Makerere student, who recently secured UGX 200M from the government added that his team has already standardised the chemical composition of teargas and the only thing remaining is the commercialisation of the product.
According to Mugarura, the chemical composition of the teargas is now 100% standardised.
During the same meeting, Mugarura also disclosed that his team was guided by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to consider manufacturing their own canisters to sell a final finished product. More details from the meeting indicate that they have a canister design and are considering fabricating canisters with detonators.
The excited Mugarura also revealed that once he secures the required UGX 66billion, Uganda will be the first country in Africa to produce purely organic teargas.
“Other countries are manufacturing missiles and other dangerous weapons but for us getting mere funding for teargas is a big challenge,’ Mugarura said.
In his advice to Mugarura, Bwino Fred Kyakulaga, the chairperson of the committee told the former Makerere student to consider signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Makerere University if he is to continue receiving funding from the government.
