Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) is pleased to announce that its innovative VEP Herbal Wound Spray has received official certification from the Uganda National Drugs Authority (NDA). This certification signifies that the product is now registered as a Notified Herbal Product within the NDA registry, confirming its compliance with national standards for safety and efficacy. Essentially, the NDA’s classification acknowledges the formulation as a legitimate herbal medicine suitable for public use. This achievement represents a significant regulatory endorsement of the spray’s quality and concludes the development phase of the project.
- FLYER INDICATING VEP HERBAL WOUND SPRAY AND NDA NOTIFICATION FILE NUMBER
Product Composition and Benefits
VEP Herbal Wound Spray is a topical remedy made from two locally sourced medicinal plants: Bidens pilosa (also known as Black Jack) and Aloe secundiflora (commonly referred to as Aloe vera). This combination utilises the natural wound-healing and soothing properties of its ingredients. Bidens pilosa has a long history of traditional use in healing cuts and scratches, while aloe gel is renowned for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and skin-repairing effects. When applied, the spray helps relieve symptoms of minor skin wounds (cuts, scratches and abrasions), has an anti-inflammatory effect, and provides a cooling effect to the wounds. It’s designed to offer a safe, natural, affordable, and accessible alternative to conventional therapies used for wound healing and management in patients in low and middle-income settings.
- Bidens pilosa leaves
- Aloe secundiflora leaves, from which the gel is obtained
Development and Innovation Process
The VEP spray was created through a student-led innovation process at MUST’s Faculty of Medicine. The idea emerged in early 2023 during a university research seminar organised by the MUST Association of Pharmaceutical Science Students, where the team’s herbal spray stood out among other projects. Guided by Mr. Ivan Kahwa (Department of Pharmacy), the multidisciplinary team refined the formula through laboratory experiments, phytochemical analyses, and microbiological safety testing. They improved the blend through multiple prototypes and applied for regulatory notification. In late 2023, a seed grant from MUST’s Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer (CITT) provided essential funding to buy raw materials, lab supplies, and develop the formulation. This grant supported the research and helped the team complete the NDA notification process.
- VEP spray team ready to pitch their product to CITT in 2023
Recognition and Awards
Our innovation has already earned national recognition. In November 2023, the VEP Herbal Wound Spray project received the Heroes in Health Award (Student Innovation category) from the Ministry of Health, Uganda. The award, presented at the Heroes in Health ceremony, recognised the spray as the best student innovation of the year. This honour highlighted the project’s potential impact on community health and validated the team’s excellence in blending traditional knowledge with modern pharmaceutical science.
- Delafrique Deogratias receiving the Heroes in Health Award (Student Innovation category)
- the Heroes in Health Award (Student Innovation category)
Institutional Support and Partnerships
This project gained significant support from the institution and its collaborative partners, both within MUST and externally. MUST’s leadership, through its research and innovation network, offered valuable resources, guidance, and strategic direction. Key supporters included:
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Centre for Innovation & Technology Transfer (CITT), MUST: The CITT provides not only seed funding for development but also ongoing innovation management. Dr Medard Twinamatsiko, CITT Director, notes that the CITT oversees innovation hubs focusing on medical technologies and herbal standardisation. This network connects student inventors with patent, regulatory, and commercialisation expertise.
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Pharm-Biotechnology & Traditional Medicine Centre (PHARMBIOTRAC): As a dedicated hub for herbal medicine research, PHARMBIOTRAC provided the team with laboratory space, equipment, and technical support throughout formulation and testing.
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Consortium for Affordable Medical Technology (CAMTech) – Uganda and StartHub Africa: These external incubation hubs provided the team with extra mentorship, entrepreneurship training, and networking opportunities. Their involvement helped the innovators fine-tune their business plan and get ready for future product launches.
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Other key departments, including Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy, Pharmacology, and Microbiology, offered academic support and expert guidance, maintaining high scientific standards throughout.
- The VEP Spray team with Dr Medard, CITT Director
- Mrs. Nuriat, and Mr. Makenzie from CAMTech Uganda
Research Team and Mentorship
Driven by a dedicated student team from MUST, under the leadership of Mr. Delafrique Deogratias (Project Lead and Quality Assurance Head), the VEP project ensured high-quality formulation and regulatory compliance. The team worked alongside:
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Ms. Okoth Raphaelina, Co-Lead (Manufacturing and Scale-up)
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Mr. Mutyaba Ronald (Formulation and Optimisation)
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Ms. Ainembabazi Lucky (Research & Innovation Head – lab experiments and data analysis)
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Ms Atuhairwe Marvis (Laboratory Analysis and Testing)
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Mr Muhire Samuel (Pharmacy Operations)
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Ms. Ashaba Patience (Sales and Marketing)
The team’s work was overseen by their mentor, Mr Ivan Kahwa (PhD candidate and Part-time Lecturer, MUST Department of Pharmacy), who offered vital research guidance and troubleshooting throughout the development process, helping the students overcome experimental hurdles and regulatory requirements.
- The team behind the VEP Herbal Wound Spray Project
Building Public Trust and Future Collaborations
As VEP Herbal Wound Spray hits the market, the NDA approval provides a solid basis for public confidence in the product’s quality. The project team and MUST reaffirm their commitment to transparency and education, ensuring that healthcare providers and consumers understand how to use this herbal remedy safely. Going forward, MUST encourages further research collaborations and public-private partnerships to build on this success. By continuing to combine traditional medicinal knowledge with modern science, we aim to develop more effective natural therapies for our community. We invite partners in research, industry, and government to work with us in bringing innovative health solutions to life, ultimately improving healthcare access and economic opportunity for Uganda and beyond.
Team Profiles
Delafrique Deogratias
He is pharmaceutical scientist is the PI and quality assurance head for this groundbreaking project.
As QA head, he ensures the product meets rigorous standards, ensuring safety, efficacy, and compliance with cGMP and other regulations. He is deeply committed to leadership, as he believes that effective leadership is essential for fostering positive change in society and he is driven to contribute his knowledge and skills to create a better, healthier, and more prosperous society.
Okoth Raphaelina
She is a pharmaceutical scientist is the Co PI for this project. She has been able to oversee manufacturing processes, ensuring efficiency and quality.
Okoth possess a strong organizational skill, and a deep subject matter knowledge relevant to the project.
She has been able to work closely with the PI to design, implement and oversee the project. In this regard, she has been able to track progress against milestones and deliverables.
Ainembabazi Lucky
Ainembabazi Lucky is a pharmaceutical scientist is the research and innovation Head driving scientific advancements and product development.
She is known for her strong analytical mindset, creativity, critical thinking, and excellent project management skills.
She has been able to lead the different pre formulation studies, perform lab experiments and document findings and technical reports
Muhire Samuel
Muhire Samuel, is a Pharmacist plays a pivotal role in pharmacovigilance and providing patient education.
He is known for strong communication ability, attention to detail, pharmacological expertise, ethical conduct, and a commitment to continuous learning to stay abreast of evolving medical knowledge and practices.
Samuel, ensures all pharmaceutical activities comply with the National regulatory standards. He also ensures patient and customer safety by minimizing risks of contamination, errors or substandard practices.
Mr. Kahwa Ivan
Mr. Kahwa Ivan who hold a MSc. Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine Science and currently pursuing his PhD is the team’s Mentor. He has played pivotal roles in guiding the team through the challenges of research, development, and implementation. His expertise and encouragement have been instrumental in shaping the project and nurturing the talents of the team members, ensuring a holistic approach to healthcare innovation and also turning this idea into a tangible reality.
Atuhairwe Marvis
Atuhairwe Marvis, is a Pharmaceutical scientist who serves as the Quality Control Head for VEP Herbal Wound Spray project. In her department, she ensures testing and inspection of raw materials, processes, and final products to ensure adherence to quality standards, regulatory compliance.
Marvis is deeply passionate about herbal drug and research driven by their potential to improve health naturally and am excited to contribute towards its growth.
Mutyaba Ronald
Mutyaba Ronald, a pharmaceutical scientist, is the production Head for this project. He has been able to oversee manufacturing processes, ensuring efficiency, quality and compliance with the regulatory standards. Ronald possesses a strong knowledge of pharmaceutical processes, dosage forms and GMP. He is also known for his accuracy in maintaining records and ensuring compliance during the process of manufacturing.
Ashaba Patience
Ashaba Patience holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance. She manages financial transactions, budgeting, and reporting, ensuring compliance with regulations. She has always played a vital role in resource allocation, cost control, and Financial sustainability for the project. Her dedication towards her work is what has kept the project moving despite the financial constraints.
