MBARARA/UGANDA: Ugandan Professor Patrick Engeu Ogwang, a senior lecturer and researcher in the Pharmacology Department at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), has won a global innovative research award.
Prof. Ogwang won the award from Global Peace Foundation as a result of his outstanding commitment to fighting the Covid-19 Pandemic using indigenous knowledge and herbal medicine.
ResearchFinds News has established that together with partners in Uganda, Global Peace Foundation conducted a countrywide survey and Prof. Ogwang Patrick was identified and recommended as an authority in research and innovation.
“He was awarded during the National Dialogue on Sustainable Future which took place on 16th November 2022 at Imperial Royale Hotel Kampala,” a news release on the university’s website reveals.
Prof. Ogwang is the inventor of COVIDEX, a natural herbal for supportive treatment in the management of viral infections (Covid-19) under his Jena Herbals Uganda Ltd. He is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy in the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, a Medical Researcher, an Entrepreneur, and the Executive Chairman of Jena Herbals Uganda Limited.
His innovation is billed to have saved many COVID patients during the multiple lockdowns in Uganda, and it is sold countrywide and in the region as a herbal remedy for flu, colds, coughs, and COVID-like symptoms.
Prof Ogwang is also the immediate Past President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, a body that governs pharmacists and their practices in Uganda.
“Prof. Ogwang’s research focus is on testing, developing, and producing medicines from plants based on traditional medicine, knowledge, and scientific laboratory evidence,” says the news release.
His range of herbal medicines has been approved by Uganda’s National Drug Authority and can be freely accessed in pharmacies around the country.
COVIDEX background
The online publication campusbee.ug, reports that according to media reports, in 2020, when an American visiting professor contracted COVID-19 in Uganda, Prof. Ogwang modified a concoction that he had been developing to treat viral mouth ulcers. He gave it to the American to drop into his nostrils several times a day.
Prior research had shown that the mixture had antiviral properties. The visitor made a full recovery in short order! A colleague of the guest professor who had traveled with him to Uganda also fell ill with COVID-19 and was also helped, without having to be admitted.
It was also reported that in May/June 2021, when the delta variant of COVID-19 made its entry into Uganda, Ogwang shared his anti-COVID-19 nasal drops with some family members and close friends and they all got better. Then Prof. Ogwang himself came down with COVID-19. He used his medicine which he called Covidex to heal himself. After he had about 10 documented cases, he approached the National Drug Authority for an emergency license. He was awarded a temporary emergency license, while he arranged full clinical trials that would become successful.
Subsequently, many medical practitioners use Covidex along with other treatment regimens, since Covidex is known to have anti-viral properties.
Ugandan President Museveni initially was skeptical
In 2021, while his COVIDEX remedy attracted mixed reactions from the public, Prof. Ogwang told the media that he got a call from Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni who was also skeptical about it until he proved he had used it on himself.
“It was President Museveni (on the line); he is an intelligent man, very experienced, he asked me so many questions,” he told Nile Post, a Kampala online news platform linked to NBS Television.
“Most importantly, the President asked me how I know that Covidex works I gave him the history, he gave me so much time to explain, and he listened to me throughout,” he said.
Ogwang said that the President asked for numbers of all those people Ogwang claims had been cured of Covid-19 and he called them himself to establish the truth, reported Nile Post.
“He called all of them and asked them the same questions, he then said he would call me the next day at 10:00 am,” he said.
“The next day at exactly 10:00 am, the president called as promised. He asked me more questions regarding the science of medicine. How does it work? Etc. I shared with him all those details,” he added.
Ogwang said that after a long discussion with Museveni on phone, the president asked him what he wanted to ensure his work is made easy.
“I told him I want security especially for the factory and for myself. I also told him I want the capacity to expand production. He told me he would connect me to Gen. Paul Loketch (deceased former Deputy Police Chief) and Madam Nakyobe (Lucy) to handle the security and financing. He kept calling me every day to check on the progress,” Ogwang said.
Ogwang maintains that he tested positive for Covid-19 days’ later before meeting the president and his envoys. He informed them that he had got the virus and he was told “now use your medicine and cure yourself we see”.
“The president confirmed that I am not using any modern formula. Within four days of using my codex and vitamin C, I was great. I tested on day 10 and was negative,’ he said.
“The president called me on day 10 and was so happy, he asked me, did you use the other medicine of ours? I said yes sir. He was so excited. I was also very happy in my heart,” he added.
The president then confirmed and told Ogwang to move quickly and meet the relevant people to help him expand his production.
About the Global Peace Foundation
The Global Peace Foundation is an international non-profit organization with a stated mission to promote “an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God. For more information, check on the website: https://www.globalpeace.org/
