Leading animal health company ERAM Uganda Limited will on October 30, 2025, celebrate three decades in business with the official opening of its new headquarters, ERAM House, located on Plot 3 Hoima Road in Bakuli.
The company says the twin event will mark both its growth and resilience in Uganda’s veterinary industry.
The day will begin with the formal launch of the new offices, to be presided over by Minister of Animal Husbandry Bright Rwamirama, followed by an evening dinner for guests and selected farmers at the Kampala Serena Hotel’s Victoria Hall.
ERAM was founded in 1995 by three professionals who met in the field of veterinary services—chemist Edward Muhingirwa, veterinary doctor Alice Hope Banga, and Dr Richard Mucunguzi.
The company’s name, ERAM, was derived from the initials of the founders. It became the first veterinary pharmacy to be formally incorporated in Uganda by the National Drug Authority (NDA).
Dr Mucunguzi has since left the partnership, but Muhingirwa and Dr. Banga recall that their decision to form ERAM was driven by necessity and regulatory pressure.
“ERAM was formed out of survival mode,” said Muhingirwa. “Grace, Dr Mucunguzi, and I had been dealing in animal health products in different shops but came together to pool resources and buy animal medicine at better discounts.
"Then the National Drug Authority came about and set strict conditions for us to operate. At that time, we didn’t have enough space for pharmacies, which was one of the requirements. We had to register the company, get the license, and find better facilities, which we did by first basing ERAM in Container Village.”
From those modest beginnings, ERAM has grown into a major distributor of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, equipment, and supplements across Uganda.
The firm says it currently employs more than 80 Ugandans and operates additional facilities, including a factory in Lugazi.
According to Dr Banga, the 30-year milestone is not only about the company’s longevity but also about appreciating the farmers and partners who have been part of its journey.
“The celebrations started some time back,” she said. “We have been celebrating region by region—meeting farmers, training them, and marking our partnership with them. The Kampala celebration will be the climax of a year-long programme.
"We want to celebrate the farmers who have supported us, and the general public because they are the ones who consume the products of those farmers. There’s no reason to buy tinned meat or processed eggs when our own farmers are producing quality food.”
Dr Banga added that ERAM’s growth into production marks a significant shift in Uganda’s animal health sector.
“If you see where we started from, you would not believe it. Apart from this new home, we also have other establishments in Lugazi," Dr Banga said. "While we started by sourcing, we are now at the stage of producing. Such milestones are worth celebrating.”
The company’s journey, she said, has not been without challenges.
“The last 30 years have not been easy. At certain points, we wanted to give up. Edward and I were not qualified accountants or human resource managers, but we had to manage the company ourselves," she said.
"We faced other challenges like COVID-19, government policies that keep changing, and high taxes that make it difficult for other players to grow.”
Muhingirwa said the company’s future plans focus on consolidating its position as a regional player in animal health.
“Our vision is to rewrite animal health history not just in Uganda but in the region,” he said.
As the company marks its 30th anniversary, it stands as one of Uganda’s oldest surviving private veterinary enterprises—evolving from a small partnership formed under pressure to comply with new drug regulations into a national distributor now eyeing regional expansion.