This archive report was first published on 25 November 2019.
On November 25, 2019, a Ugandan drone service firm was in talks with the government to deliver medical supplies to public health facilities. The deal, if successful, would make Uganda one of a few African countries to use drones for public health logistics.
Uganda's public hospitals often face shortages of essential supplies, including blood, drugs, and medical equipment, due to unreliable transportation through the gridlocked capital or along poorly paved or dirt roads in the countryside.
John Goslino, business manager at Flexdrone, a Ugandan-German drone services firm, said the service aimed to start delivery in March if talks were successful. The firm had already secured approval from the Information and Communications Technology Ministry and was awaiting endorsement from the Health Ministry.
Flexdrone planned to deploy drones capable of carrying 5 kg each, but could use bigger drones as demand grew. The firm had partnered with Ugandan start-up firm Sysimo Technologies to develop a mobile app for the on-demand delivery service.
Similar services have been launched in Ghana and Rwanda, where drones have been used to deliver medical supplies since 2016.
