Gulu University’s COVID-19 natural herbal treatment, Covilyce has emerged the best exhibit from Uganda and won the second-best product award at the 21st East African Community Micro and Small Enterprise Trade fair held in Mwanza, Tanzania.
The event attracted over 1,500 exhibitors of products from Kenya, Burundi, South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda engaged in herbal, carpentry, leather products, food processing and culture.
Geoffrey Kiiro from Kenya emerged the best in the East African Community with his Crafts and wood creative design and third in the region was Kavimo Limited who deals in Textile and Fabrics from Tanzania.
The head of the panel of Judges, Ruth Simba, said all the 12 judges with 2 from each member state recommended Covilyce creativity and innovations towards curbing COVID-19 which has adversely affected businesses worldwide.
The Ministry of Trade Small and Medium Enterprise Principal Officer, Godfrey Tukamubona who coordinated the Ugandan team said the 134 exhibitors from the country performed well, setting grounds for the event to be hosted here (in Uganda) next year.
“As Uganda, we are looking forward to host the 22nd EAC exhibition and this result is motivating and we expect to have more than 500 Ugandans participating next year,” said Tukamubona.
This year’s exhibition themed ‘’Promoting Quality and Innovation to Enhance EAC MSMES competitiveness and post Covid-19 Recovery’’ saw National Arts and Cultures come second while Atiak Sugar Out Growers Cooperative Society Limited from Amuru district came third amongst 134 Ugandan exhibitors.
The last EAC exhibition took place in 2019 in Kigali, Rwanda before COVID19 hampered the exhibition in 2020 and Uganda is the official host of next year’s exhibition involving all the members states of Kenya, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania.
Prof. Openjuru George Ladaah, the Gulu University Vice-Chancellor, said the award would challenge the University to do more in solving community problems since the university looks at community transformation as a philosophical approach.
