Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda

What Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda does

The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) is the statutory professional body for pharmacists in Uganda, established in 1970 under the Pharmacy and Drugs Act (PDA) 1970, Cap 280 of Uganda's constitution. It is a nonprofit organization governed by a twelve-member council (four appointees of the Minister of Health, six elected at the annual general meeting every four years, plus the secretary and treasurer ex officio) and is headquartered at Pharmacy House, Plot 1847 Kyambogo Banda, Kampala. PSU's functional mandate is to set and enforce standards of pharmacy practice across retail, wholesale, hospital, industrial, and regulatory settings; accredit pharmacy training institutions; maintain the national pharmacist register; and conduct the pre-internship (eligibility) and pre-registration (qualifying) examinations required to enter and remain in the profession in Uganda.

PSU operates a portfolio of digital services including an online membership application portal (psuapp.cemug.com), the Find a Pharmacist public directory (psucop.com), an Adverse Event Reporting system, a Google-Form–based Pharmacist Data Capture & Update tool, and a Resources & Downloads repository for practice guidelines, byelaws, and strategic plans. It also administers Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses for pharmacists, medical representatives, and pharmacy auxiliary staff, and publishes the Annual Uganda Pharmaceutical Journal and Medicine Today quarterly magazine. Beyond regulatory services, PSU runs the Pharmacists Sacco, a financial cooperative offering loans, hire purchase, and cash advances to members, and conducts phytopharmaceutical research through the SUPPACT project (biobased supplements for artemisinin combination therapy against malaria) with icipe/BioInnovate Africa, University of Bukavu, University of Bahr el Ghazal, Kampala International University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, and Makerere University, building on proprietary work including Microse® (pharmaceutical-grade microcrystalline cellulose from maize cobs) and Jenamal®.

PSU's revenue model is a mix of recurring annual subscriptions (entrance fee UGX 250,000 plus subscription UGX 550,000 for new members), per-examination fees (UGX 250,000 for the pre-internship exam; UGX 350,000 for the pre-registration exam; USD 200 for non-Ugandans), one-time fees for Certificates of Practice, Annual Membership Certificates, IDs, clinical coats, and Code of Conduct booklets, plus financial-services revenue from the Pharmacists Sacco (membership UGX 50,000, minimum 10 shares at UGX 10,000 each). Pricing is standardized, regulated, and denominated in Ugandan Shillings with USD equivalents for non-Ugandan applicants. Go-to-market is hybrid: sales-led for statutory membership and licensing transactions, and community-led for CPD, scholarships, and Sacco financial services. PSU is supported by international affiliations (FIP, ISOP Africa Chapter) and domestic partnerships with the National Drug Authority, National Medical Stores, and the Ministry of Health.

Name

Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda

Legal name

Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda

Website

https://psu.or.ug

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) is the statutory professional body for pharmacists in Uganda, founded in 1970. It regulates pharmacy practice through qualifying examinations, accredits training institutions, issues Certificates of Practice, delivers continuing professional development, and runs the Pharmacists Sacco financial cooperative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual subscription fees from pharmacists seeking membership (MPS) and Certificate of Practice (CoP). Members pay entrance fees and annual renewals for continued practice authorization.
2. Examination Fees: Fees charged for pre-internship/eligibility examinations and pre-registration/qualifying examinations conducted twice annually for pharmacist qualification.
3. Certificate and Document Fees: Fees for issuing Certificate of Practice (CoP), Annual Membership Certificates (AMC), clinical coats, and ID cards for registered pharmacists.
4. Pharmacists Sacco Financial Services: SACCO services providing loans, hire purchase products, and financial services to pharmacist members, generating revenue through interest and membership fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) is the statutory professional body for pharmacists in Uganda, established under the Pharmacy and Drugs Act 1970. It administers qualifying examinations, issues Certificates of Practice, accredits pharmacy training institutions, manages the national pharmacist register, and delivers Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs. It also operates the Pharmacists Sacco financial cooperative and runs the SUPPACT research initiative on malaria treatment innovation.

Product overview

The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda operates as a professional regulatory and service organization offering a portfolio of membership, examination, and professional development services to pharmacists in Uganda. The core offerings include an online membership application portal and pharmacist directory for member management; Pre-Internship/Eligibility and Pre-Registration qualifying examinations for entry into the profession; a Pharmacists Sacco providing financial products; Adverse Event Reporting for pharmacovigilance; Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses; and the SUPPACT research project for malaria treatment innovation. Practice guidelines, byelaws, and downloadable resources support regulatory compliance across retail and wholesale pharmacy operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PSU Membership (Certificate of Practice)
• Pre-Internship/Eligibility Examination
• Pre-Registration Examination
• Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
• Pharmacists Sacco
• Find a Pharmacist Directory
• Adverse Event Reporting System
• SUPPACT Project

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jena Herbals LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduct innovation partner leading efficacy and safety evaluation in animal models, pilot production of SUPPACT for clinical trials, and commercialization plans. Led by Assoc. Prof. Patrick Ogwang Engeu, founder of the company.
• University of BukavucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner led by Dr. Mushagalusa Kasali Félicien, responsible for extract preparation, chemical compound profiling, isolation, structural elucidation, and phase 2a & 2b clinical trials.
• University of Bahr el GhazalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner led by Dr. Lina Sara Mathew Alonga, responsible for Artemisia species identification and authentication, cultivation and conservation, raw material collection, primary processing and quality control.
• Kampala International University (KIU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccredited pharmacy training institution offering Bachelor of Pharmacy, Master of Pharmacy programs, and PhDs. Private university established 2004 at Western Campus in Ishaka, Bushenyi District.
• Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic university department of pharmacy established 2003 in Mbarara City. Offers Bachelor of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, postgraduate programs, and PhDs. Home to Assoc. Prof. Patrick Ogwang Engeu.
• Makerere UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic university pharmacy department established 1988 at main campus in Kampala. Offers Bachelor of Pharmacy, MSc programs, and PhDs. Former PSU Council Member Dr. Robert BD Otto serves as Head of Department.
• National Drug AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUganda's pharmaceutical regulatory authority. PSU collaborates on practice guidelines, bylaws, and pharmacy standards development.
• National Medical StoresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUganda's national essential medicines supplier. PSU maintains operational relationship for pharmacy profession interests.
• Ministry of Health UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry responsible for health policy. PSU council includes four members appointed by the Minister of Health. Collaborates on national pharmacy training policy and internship frameworks.
• International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal pharmacy federation. PSU participates in FIP World Congress and FIP conducts research projects with PSU including early detection and referral of TB cases in Jinja district.
• International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISOP) Africa ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISOP Africa Chapter Meeting 2024 hosted with participation from PSU members for pharmacovigilance professional development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Royal Pharmaceutical Society: Long-established UK professional body for pharmacists, providing membership, professional development, and policy advocacy. Represents a mature version of the same institutional model PSU operates.
• Pharmacy Council of India: Statutory regulatory body for pharmacy education and profession in India. Comparable in regulatory authority and examination function, though at vastly greater scale.
• South African Pharmacy Council: Statutory regulator of pharmacists, pharmacy support personnel, and pharmacy premises in South Africa. Comparable in statutory scope and CPD/registration functions.

Direct peers

• Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana: Professional and regulatory body for pharmacists in Ghana, performing analogous membership, examination, and CPD functions. Comparable African peer with similar institutional structure to PSU.
• Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria: National professional body for pharmacists in Nigeria, conducting membership registration, examinations, and CPD. Comparable in scope and statutory role, though operating in a substantially larger market.
• Tanzania Pharmacy Council: Statutory regulator of pharmacists and pharmacies in Tanzania, with analogous examination, registration, and inspection functions. Directly comparable regional peer within the EAC geography.
• Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya: Statutory professional body for pharmacists in Kenya, with parallel membership, qualifying examination, CPD, and regulatory oversight functions. Most directly comparable to PSU given shared East African context and similar statutory mandate.

Others

• National Drug Authority (Uganda): Government regulator of medicines and pharmacy premises in Uganda. Not a peer in the membership sense, but a closely linked counterpart on drug regulation, inspection, and standards; PSU's collaboration partner.
• Jena Herbals Ltd: Ugandan phytopharmaceutical company developing Covidex, Jenamal, and SUPPACT-related products in partnership with PSU. Adjacent commercial partner that translates PSU's research into products rather than a direct professional-body peer.

Peers

• American Pharmacists Association: Largest US pharmacy professional association, offering membership, advocacy, education, and publications. Comparable as a scaled-up version of PSU's member-services and CPD model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pharmaceutical-society-of-uganda

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda