KAMPALA – Several sections of Ugandans have reacted with pessimism to an announcement by Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga that an American inventor has partnered with Ugandan biochemist to manufacture spray/ hand-wash, which instantly kills the coronavirus.
On Monday, March 16, 2020, Ms Kadaga, writing on her social media handles, said the American inventor, Prof. Sarfaraz K. Niaz, who was here at the weekend, has given the patent-free of charge to Uganda.
“I’ve told Parliament that a spray/ hand-wash, which instantly kills the Coronavirus has been discovered. The American inventor, Prof. Sarfaraz K. Niaz, who was here at the weekend, has given the patent-free of charge to Uganda. He has teamed up with a Ugandan biochemist, Mathias Magoola, of DEI Group in Luzira, a city suburb. The product goes on sale next week.,” she wrote on Twitter.
However, several Ugandans have expressed mixed reactions to the news, with several doubting the credibility or knowledge of the American scientist in discovering the spray.
Janet Nakate wrote: “Where else has he tried it and it worked and why bring to Uganda of all countries?
How come the participants are only told now when the deal is already done? Should we say that if rejected by the people, you can send it back to him or you will forcefully use it just like the many other times, e.g the vaccines to our children.Hope he didn’t have to part with dollars in exchange for the lives of the innocent Ugandans? Perhaps seeing some of your loved ones serving as study participants will help clear the clouds. So many questions running in the minds of many yet with no answers.”
Samson Buwembo added: “How much have you been paid to wood wink Ugandans? Isn’t that American happy saving the lives of his fellow Americans where at least there are reported cases? Why don’t you first confirm before you communicate Hon speaker? Personally I’ve started getting afraid.”
Walter Akwat said: “A few questions: Does Parliament have the competence to make a declaration on the “instant killer” effectiveness of this spray? Did the American inventor go through the competent bodies (like NDA) before getting the Speaker’s lofty endorsement of his product? Why has the scientist preferred Uganda – without any registered case of Coronavirus – to market his product instead of other countries that need it more than we do? Finally, given Parliament’s sheer incompetence to create an enabling environment for weeding out fake products from Ugandan markets, how can we trust that this is not another fake product brought to a country where everyone seems to take advantage of system failure due to political interference in the domain of professional bodies?”
Rue Kdc wrote: “Just asking Madam Speaker… Why can’t he try that disinfectant in China or ltaly instead of discovering it for Uganda with no CORONA Virus case declared?”
Katonda Roger stated: “Mpozi you want to sell people water pretending that it’s the cure. The current information so far is to keep hygine at uts climax, wash hands with warm water and soap, avoid unnecessary gatherings, dont shake hands etc. Tell people the truth, the cure isn’t yet discovered.”
Kiranda Alexander said: “What I know is that by giving the patent to Uganda free, it makes it more affordable to the whole world and by having it sanctioned by the parliament of UGANDA the original owner is trying to fight the blockade from the corporate pharmaceutical companies who would have blocked it and who would have wanted to use it for profit means. I think this time around the Uganda mafias have really done something positive for this country.”
Mukasa Steven said: “The product goes on the market for free of charge! Why do we have to spend billions on elections and yet we can’t provide free sprays/ hand wash to treat coronavirus… And Ugandans will lineup in 2021 to vote.”
Yusuf Ampurire added: “Why not discovered by Ugandans, what went wrong with your research institutes?”
