UGANDA—Dr. Matthias Magoola, the founder and Managing Director of Dei Biopharma Ltd, has been honoured as a distinguished recipient of the African Excellence & Personality Awards 2025.
This recognition, awarded during the ceremony in Accra Ghana on 25th of April, 2025, comes just a few months after Dr. Magoola received accolades for his contributions to vaccine research at the 2025 Ratna Pharma awards in India and the prestigious International Molecular Biologist Awards in December 2024, where he was awarded as the Best Researcher for his innovative work in using mRNA technology to develop therapeutic drugs and protein vaccines.
According to the ACEPA Secretariat in Ghana, Dr. Magoola was awarded for his visionary leadership and groundbreaking innovations in sectors vital to Africa’s progress, particularly in economic development and healthcare transformation.
“Dr. Magoola’s commitment to advancing biotechnology and pharmaceuticals has established a new standard for self-reliance within Africa’s healthcare sector,” organisers, said, saluting his relentless efforts and forward-thinking approach, which have improved public health outcomes and positioned him among the continent’s most influential figures.
According to the organisers, the award underscores the importance of scientific research and technological innovation in tackling some of Africa’s most pressing challenges.
Dr. Magoola a Ugandan scientist and inventor, has built Dei Biopharma Limited, a biotech and pharmaceutical research firm duly incorporated in Uganda, specializing in the development and manufacture of innovative medicines and vaccines, and is currently developing a multi-billion dollar drugs and vaccines manufacturing plant at Matugga, near Kampala, Uganda’s capital.
President Museveni, while meeting Dr. Magoola and his team last month pledged government support in obtaining a license for a number of their locally produced vaccines to enable their use on the global market.
At the meeting at State House Entebbe on April 13, President Museveni acknowledged Dr. Magoola’s efforts, pledging that the government will work towards expediting the National Drug and Health Products Act, a vital step to enable the National Drug Authority (NDA) to attain WHO Maturity Level 3 accreditation that facilitates it to license vaccines produced locally for use in global markets.
Dr. Magoola, has through Dei Biopharma Ltd filed over 100 patents with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for treating different diseases and vaccines, including for cancer, HIV, Alzheimer’s, Sickle cells, Malaria, TB and Diabetes.
In the latest breakthrough, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on February 6, 2025, published Dr. Magoola’s patent for a novel cancer treatment using guided RNA.
The invention is specifically designed to treat cancer by disrupting the mutated genes.
Earlier on January 7, 2025, the USPTO accepted an application by Dei Biopharma for the invention of the world’s first universal vaccine against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), an infection that has been wreaking havoc in livestock across the country and other parts of the world.
This invention, titled “Affordable Universal Fusion Universal Vaccine for Foot and Mouth Disease Infections,” will, according to Dr Magoola, save the government billions of shillings it has been spending on importing vaccines.
Dr. Magoola thanks President Museveni for the support to the Ugandan scientists over the years.
“We are grateful for the support from the government, and especially His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni, for his unwavering support to Ugandan scientists and in particular to the Dei BioPharma drugs and vaccines manufacturing project. Without his dedicated support, we wouldn’t be achieving these milestones, and it is fair that we must thank and credit him for these achievements. These achievements are for Uganda and specifically for our dear president, for he has always stood up for the scientists in this country,” Dr. Magoola said.
