Veteran journalist and political commentator Andrew Mwenda has withdrawn his previous criticism of Dei BioPharma founder Dr. Matthias Magoola following a tour of the company’s pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Matugga.

Speaking to journalists after the visit on Friday, Mwenda said the tour had significantly altered his view of the project.

“I am not an expert in the pharmaceutical industry. However, everything I have seen here is impressive,” Mwenda remarked.

“What Magoola is doing looks great, and the facility is highly equipped.”

This represents a notable reversal from Mwenda’s earlier statements, in which he labelled Dr. Magoola a conman and questioned the government’s decision to invest public money in the company.

Those remarks drew a direct response from President Yoweri Museveni, who urged Mwenda to visit the facility and engage with its management before reaching conclusions.

“You are supposed to be a journalist,” Museveni wrote in a public letter.

“Why do you not interview these ‘conmen’ such as Magoola, Senfuka, etc.? They are here in Uganda. They are where you can reach them and even the assets they have put on the ground. Visit Magoola’s factories in Matugga and Kamuli.”

Mwenda said he took the President’s feedback seriously and arranged the visit.

“Beyond being a journalist, I also believe in the principles of natural justice, which dictate that you should not act as a judge and prosecutor in the same case, nor judge someone without listening to them. I came here to watch, observe, listen, learn and understand,” he explained.

He noted that conversations with the company’s management and technical team helped shape his new perspective.

“They are highly educated and gave me convincing explanations of their operations. I am inclined to believe that investing in a project like this can be beneficial for the country,” Mwenda added.

He also questioned whether his initial doubts stemmed from a “colonized mindset” that finds it difficult to accept that a Ugandan could build a company potentially worth billions of dollars.

He expressed willingness to give Dr. Magoola the benefit of the doubt.

Addressing Dr. Magoola directly, Mwenda offered a public apology: “I want to apologize for mischaracterizing you. I apologize for making a judgment about you without even talking to you. I apologize for making accusations against your work without visiting your plant. I ask for your forgiveness.”

While revising his stance on the company, Mwenda criticized government institutions for continuing to import medicines that could potentially be produced locally.

He specifically mentioned the Ministry of Health, the Uganda Cancer Institute, and the National Medical Stores, arguing that public investment in local manufacturing should be supported by a commitment to buy domestically produced drugs where possible.

“If the government cannot provide a domestic market and act as the primary buyer for these products, the investment strategy falls short,” he said.

During the tour, Dr. Magoola highlighted that Dei BioPharma has developed over 100 patents for biologic medicines, including therapeutic proteins, monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, and vaccines.

The company plans to produce these in Uganda for both local use and export.

He also shared expansion plans, noting that the Matugga facility is expected to generate thousands of jobs, with a second plant in Kamuli set to further boost capacity.

Dr. Patrick Wakida, chairman of the company’s board of governors, confirmed that the Government of Uganda holds a 9.4 percent stake in Dei BioPharma, with the rest owned by Dr. Magoola and private investors.

He acknowledged past financing delays but said the Cabinet has approved additional funding to help complete the project.Government support for Dei BioPharma has faced scrutiny in recent years, including observations by the Auditor General that the equity acquisition lacked a formal valuation — a concern also raised by some Members of Parliament.

Mwenda had previously apologised to President Museveni for suggesting that age had impaired the President’s judgment and retracted his description of Dr. Magoola and herbalist David Ssenfuka as “conmen and witch doctors.”

He stated that the on-site visit allowed him to reassess his earlier opinions based on direct observation.