For more than ten years, Ugandan herbalist David Ssenfuka has tirelessly campaigned for government recognition and backing of his herbal remedy, which he claims can treat cancer and diabetes—two of the world’s deadliest diseases.
After years of limited attention, insiders say President Yoweri Museveni recently invited Ssenfuka to present his work to the cabinet, alongside other innovators such as Prof. Charles Ibingira, chairman of the Joint Clinical Research Centre, and Dr Mathias Magoola, managing director of Dei Biopharma.
Sources familiar with the confidential meeting say Museveni praised Ssenfuka’s work as “a national treasure” and criticised government spending on lesser projects while ignoring potentially life-changing local innovations. The president reportedly pledged to fund Ssenfuka’s research going forward and to help clear debts the herbalist incurred from self-financing his project.
Foreign investors have shown interest in acquiring the herbal remedy, raising the urgency for Uganda to act quickly to retain the innovation.
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Ssenfuka, who has been working since 2013 to advance his treatment through lab tests and documentation, lacks the resources to conduct large-scale clinical trials or mass production. An aide confirmed the president’s backing marks a turning point in the project’s development.
Among supporters is former chief justice Samuel Wako Wambuzi, who has advocated for local research and indigenous knowledge for years. He described Ssenfuka’s approach as professional and systematic and urged Africans to value homegrown solutions rather than relying solely on Western medicines.
The global burden of cancer and diabetes is significant. According to the World Health Organization, these diseases are leading causes of death worldwide, with the US spending hundreds of billions annually on treatment. Africa faces a rising incidence of non-communicable diseases due to lifestyle changes and limited healthcare access.
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has yet to comment officially, though Minister Dr Monica Musenero has previously shown interest in the project and facilitated the presentation to cabinet.
The Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute has confirmed that Ssenfuka’s remedy contains components with curative properties for diabetes, but further clinical trials are needed to validate efficacy.
Government support could accelerate testing, regulatory approval, and production, potentially bringing a locally developed herbal medicine into mainstream healthcare—a development seen by many as a hopeful step for Uganda and beyond.
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