Francis Kitaka

Francis Xavier Kitaka (1 January 1935 – 12 September 2020) was a Ugandan biochemist, veterinarian, entrepreneur and industrialist. He is the former chairman of Cipla Quality Chemical Industries Limited (CIPLAQCIL), located in Luzira, a suburb of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. CIPLAQCIL is the only company in Sub-Saharan Africa, that is authorized to manufacture triple therapy antiretroviral drugs.

Background and education He was born in 1935, in a family of six siblings, to Celestino Mayambala Musoke and Monica Musoke. Francis Kitaka attended Rubaga Primary School, starting in 1944. 1948 Kitaka was admitted to Bukalasa Minor Seminary, but was expelled in 1950, for wearing bathroom sandals to Church. The following year, 1951, he was admitted to Rubaga Boys' Secondary School, where he sat his middle school examinations in 1952. He entered St. Mary's College Kisubi in 1952 and left in 1954 after sitting his O Level examinations (Cambridge Ordinary School Certificate Examinations). In 1955, he was admitted to the Faculty of Science at Makerere University for the intermediate course for two years. This was equivalent to Advanced Level (A Level) studies. In 1957 Kitaka entered the Department of Veterinary Medicine, to study for the Diploma in Veterinary Medicine, which he obtained in 1958. In 1961 he received a scholarship from the Government of Uganda to study Biochemistry at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. After graduation, Kitaka became the first African biochemist in East Africa.

Work history In 1961, prior to his departure for Scotland for further studies, he worked at the Animal Health Research Centre in Entebbe. While in Scotland, he worked at Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen for eight years, before returning to Uganda in 1968. Upon his return, he worked at the Tick Control Department in the Ministry of Agriculture, as an Entomologist. In 1972, Francis Kitaka joined Wellcome Uganda Limited, as the Sales Manager.

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.