QCL learned through the Indian High Commissioner to Uganda, that Cipla, the Indian pharmaceutical company was looking for a serious pharmaceutical company to partner with in Uganda. They flew to India and signed partnership and marketing agreements. That was the beginning of the importation of Cipla-manufactured pharmaceuticals into Uganda. They convinced Cipla to build a factory to manufacture ARVs in Uganda. QCL bought a piece of land in 2004 and on 3 September 2005, President Yoweri Museveni performed the ground breaking ceremony. The factory was commissioned in 2007. The pharmaceutical plant is owned by a new entity called Quality Chemical Industries Limited, in which Cipla and Quality Chemicals Limited own equal shares. The plant is operated by QCL. Francis Xavier Kitaka has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of QCIL from 2007 until November 2013. In 2013, Cipla acquired majority shareholding in QCIL, and changed the name of the company to CIPLAQCIL. At that time the Chairmanship changed to Emmanuel Katongole. Francis X Kitaka remained a shareholder in the business. Illness and death Francis X Kitaka died on 12 September 2020. At the time of is death, MTK Holdings Limited, which he co-owned, was a shareholder or outright owner of several businesses including: 1. Quality Chemicals Limited 2. Mosquito Net Village Limited, a manufacturer of mosquito nets 3. Tinosoft Limited, an ICT business that also invests in commercial real estate. See also References External links Website of Cipla International Website of CIPLAQCIL Living people 1935 births Ganda people Ugandan veterinarians Alumni of the University of Aberdeen People from Kampala District Makerere University alumni Ugandan biochemists Ugandan Roman Catholics