Buleni Milton
After sitting for the PSU pre-registration examination in November 2019, Buleni Milton waited with hope and anxiety for the results. The journey to becoming a pharmacist had been long, painful, and full of uncertainty. From the dusty classrooms of Koyi Primary School in Maracha District to the crowded wards of internship training at China-Uganda Friendship Hospital, every step had demanded sacrifice.
When the results finally came out and he had passed, Milton felt a deep sense of relief and gratitude. It was not simply an examination result—it was the confirmation of years of resilience, persistence, and faith. He was now standing at the threshold of a professional career he had once only dreamed about.
Yet life was moving quickly.
Even before completing the formal registration process with the Ministry of Health Pharmacy Board, another life-changing opportunity emerged.
On 9th January 2020, Milton was absorbed by Super Medic Pharmacy Limited as a Regulatory Affairs Pharmacist together with four other colleagues. For him, this was a major breakthrough into the corporate pharmaceutical world.
He still remembered his first day vividly.
Walking into the company offices, he carried both excitement and nervousness. Everything felt new—the corporate environment, the expectations, the pace of operations, and the responsibility attached to the role. Unlike university or internship, this was now real industry work where performance mattered every single day.
Milton knew he had much to learn.
But he also knew one thing: he was willing to outwork everyone.
At Super Medic Pharmacy Limited, he immersed himself fully into regulatory affairs. He studied pharmaceutical regulations intensely, learned product registration processes, reviewed technical documents, and interacted with regulatory authorities. He quickly understood that regulatory affairs was not simply paperwork—it was the bridge between pharmaceutical innovation, legal compliance, and patient safety.
His discipline and commitment soon became visible.
He was punctual, dependable, and eager to learn. Whenever tasks were assigned, he completed them carefully and on time. He volunteered for additional responsibilities and constantly sought guidance from senior colleagues. Management began to notice the young pharmacist from humble beginnings who approached every assignment with seriousness and professionalism.
Then came one of the most difficult periods in modern history.
In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world, eventually reaching Uganda. Fear and uncertainty gripped the country. Lockdowns were introduced, transport systems were shut down, businesses struggled, and movement became extremely difficult.
For many employees, reporting to work became nearly impossible.
But Milton refused to allow circumstances to stop him.
Without access to public transport and unable to afford expensive alternatives, he made a bold decision: he would ride a bicycle to work every day.
Day after day, even during lockdown restrictions, Milton cycled to the office. Through rain, exhaustion, uncertainty, and fear of infection, he remained committed to his responsibilities. The roads were unusually quiet during those months, but his determination remained loud.
What motivated him was not just the salary.
He understood that pharmaceutical services were essential during the pandemic. Medicines still needed regulatory oversight. Patients still needed access to treatment. Companies still needed committed professionals to keep operations moving.
At work, Milton maintained exceptional performance despite the difficult environment. He ensured assignments were completed on time, coordinated regulatory documentation, followed up on submissions, and supported company operations with dedication that exceeded expectations.
His work ethic began attracting attention at higher levels of management.
One person who particularly noticed his commitment was the Managing Director, Deepak Sharma.
Mr. Sharma saw in Milton not only intelligence, but character. He recognized a young professional who had come from difficult circumstances yet continued to demonstrate discipline, humility, and hunger for growth.
Over time, the relationship between them grew stronger professionally. Mr. Sharma mentored and encouraged Milton, giving him confidence to grow within the corporate environment.
Then, in December 2020, something happened that Milton would never forget.
During the company’s annual recognition activities, he was named Best Employee of the Year.
For Milton, the award was emotional. It represented validation—not only of his hard work during COVID-19, but of the entire journey he had travelled since childhood.
As an additional gesture of appreciation, Mr. Sharma gifted him an iPhone 11 Pro Max.
To many people, it might have seemed like just a phone.
But to Milton, it symbolized something much deeper. It was proof that excellence, consistency, and resilience could eventually be recognized regardless of one’s background.
He remembered the days when even basic school fees had been impossible to raise. He remembered teaching in Wobulenzi for UGX 70,000 per month. Now, through discipline and hard work, he was earning recognition in a respected pharmaceutical company.
Milton continued working at Super Medic Pharmacy Limited until December 2022. During this period, he developed significantly both professionally and personally. He gained valuable experience in:
- Pharmaceutical regulatory systems
- Product registration
- Regulatory documentation
- Corporate communication
- Compliance management
- Time management
- Professional leadership
More importantly, he learned how the pharmaceutical industry operated at corporate level.
But Milton’s ambition continued growing.
He wanted broader exposure. He wanted deeper technical experience. He wanted to contribute not only to regulatory affairs, but also to pharmaceutical manufacturing and product development.
Then another major opportunity arrived.
In January 2023, Milton joined Quality Chemical Industries Limited as a Regulatory Affairs Officer.
Joining QCIL was a significant milestone in his career. The company was widely recognized within Uganda’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, and the environment exposed him to higher-level industrial pharmaceutical operations.
At QCIL, Milton’s versatility quickly became apparent.
Although he initially joined as a Regulatory Affairs Officer, management soon realized that he possessed broader technical capabilities and strong adaptability. Over time, he was entrusted with several different responsibilities across departments.
His journey through multiple roles became one of the defining periods of his professional growth.
As a Regulatory Affairs Officer, he managed regulatory submissions, coordinated with authorities, and ensured compliance with pharmaceutical requirements.
As a Production Officer, he became directly involved in manufacturing operations. He learned practical industrial production processes, equipment operations, batch manufacturing procedures, and operational troubleshooting. He gained firsthand experience of how medicines were produced under GMP conditions.
Later, he transitioned into Formulation Development.
This role exposed him to the scientific side of pharmaceutical product development. Milton participated in designing formulations, evaluating product stability, improving manufacturing processes, and understanding how pharmaceutical science translated into safe and effective medicines.
For someone who had always loved science and problem-solving, this was an exciting experience.
But his learning journey did not stop there.
He also served as a Technology Transfer Officer, where he participated in transferring pharmaceutical manufacturing processes from development stage into commercial production. This role required coordination between technical departments, documentation control, process understanding, validation activities, and cross-functional communication.
Each role sharpened different aspects of his competence:
- Regulatory knowledge
- Manufacturing expertise
- Scientific thinking
- Process optimization
- Leadership
- Communication
- GMP compliance
- Quality systems understanding
By this stage, Milton was no longer just a young pharmacist trying to survive in the industry.
He was becoming a well-rounded pharmaceutical professional.
His colleagues respected his work ethic. Supervisors appreciated his adaptability. He approached every assignment with seriousness and professionalism, just as he had done since childhood.
However, another opportunity was approaching—one that would place him in even greater responsibility.
On 19th May 2025, Milton moved to Dei BioPharma Limited as a Regulatory Affairs Officer.
Joining Dei BioPharma represented a new chapter.
The company’s ambitious pharmaceutical vision aligned strongly with Milton’s own passion for healthcare transformation in Africa. He saw an environment where innovation, manufacturing excellence, and quality systems could contribute to reducing Africa’s dependence on imported medicines.
At Dei BioPharma, Milton brought with him years of accumulated experience from regulatory affairs, manufacturing, formulation development, and technology transfer.
From the beginning, he approached the role with commitment and strategic thinking. He supported regulatory activities, compliance initiatives, documentation systems, and quality-focused operations.
Management quickly recognized his capability, professionalism, and leadership potential.
Within only a few months, his responsibilities continued increasing.
Then came another major milestone.
From 1st December 2025, Milton was promoted to Quality Assurance Manager.
For him, this promotion carried deep meaning.
Quality Assurance sits at the heart of pharmaceutical manufacturing. It is responsible for ensuring that medicines are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards appropriate for patient safety.
As Quality Assurance Manager, Milton now carried responsibility for:
- GMP compliance
- Quality management systems
- Deviations and CAPA management
- Documentation control
- Internal audits
- Validation oversight
- Regulatory inspection readiness
- Risk management
- Product quality assurance
It was a role that demanded technical expertise, integrity, leadership, and attention to detail.
Fortunately, every phase of his life had prepared him for it.
The struggles of poverty had taught him resilience.
Teaching in Wobulenzi had taught him patience and communication.
The diploma training had taught him discipline.
University had taught him scientific thinking.
COVID-19 had taught him commitment under pressure.
Super Medic had introduced him to corporate professionalism.
QCIL had developed his technical and manufacturing competence.
Now at Dei BioPharma, all these experiences were coming together.
Milton often reflected on how unpredictable life had been. There was a time when continuing A-Level education had seemed impossible. There was a time when he rode a bicycle during lockdown simply to keep working. There was a time when even paying university fees had appeared beyond reach.
Yet step by step, opportunity after opportunity, challenge after challenge, he had continued moving forward.
His story became more than personal success.
It became a testimony of perseverance, discipline, humility, and the power of refusing to give up.
And although he had already achieved so much, Milton understood that his journey was still unfolding.
Because beyond career titles and achievements, he carried a larger vision:
to contribute to healthcare improvement, pharmaceutical manufacturing growth, and economic transformation in Uganda and Africa.
The young boy from Koyi Primary School had become a pharmaceutical leader.
But deep inside, he remained the same determined child who once studied under difficult conditions believing that education and hard work could change a life.
And indeed, they had.
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