Local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals is a major challenge to health care access in Africa, which has a mere 3% share of global pharmaceutical production and remains largely dependent on imports. Founded in 1995, Abacus Pharmaceuticals aims to bridge that gap across East Africa by establishing local pharmaceutical production capability and partnering with international suppliers to provide locally branded generic products or affordable medicines from abroad. Abacus is headquartered in Uganda with direct operations across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and a presence across the continent. In 2009, Abacus established an 11,000 sq.m parenteral manufacturing facility in Mukono (see cover), just outside Kampala named Abacus Parenteral Drugs Limited (APDL). APDL is now the largest parenteral manufacturing facility in East Africa and supplies the majority of the region’s demand. Abacus is also a major employer in the region, providing employment to 1200+ people across 5 East African countries.