Pharmacy Society Demands Ministry Align Board Leadership With Law

The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) has issued a call to the Ministry of Health, insisting on aligning the leadership and administration of the Pharmacy Board with the provisions of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act. The professional body argues that the Commissioner for Pharmaceuticals and Natural Medicines should concurrently serve as the Chief Pharmacist and Registrar of the Pharmacy Board.

This stance was formalized in a resolution during the PSU Council’s emergency meeting on October 13, 2026. The council expressed concern that the current separation of the Commissioner and Registrar roles might breach legal requirements and potentially invalidate registration decisions.

According to the PSU, the Pharmacy and Drugs Act clearly designates the Chief Pharmacist to be a member of the Pharmacy Board and to hold the responsibilities of Registrar and Secretary. The society contends that the Ministry of Health’s current administrative structure, which lacks an explicit Chief Pharmacist position, should recognize the Commissioner for Pharmaceuticals and Natural Medicines as the de facto Chief Pharmacist.

The PSU resolution states, “Council reaffirms its interpretation that under the Pharmacy and Drugs Act, the expectation is that the Head of Pharmacy Department, Ministry of Health (Commissioner Pharmaceuticals and Natural Medicines), is by virtue of that office the Chief Pharmacist and shall therefore exercise the additional statutory role of Registrar and Secretary, Pharmacy Board.”

Furthermore, the society highlighted the anomaly of appointing an acting registrar while the substantive position of Commissioner is filled. They emphasized that pharmacist registration is a statutory duty that must be performed by the legally designated office bearer to prevent future legal challenges.

Dr. Stephen Lutoti, secretary for the PSU, stated, “The registration of pharmacists is a statutory function, not merely an administrative assignment, and must be performed by the office bearer as expressly provided by law to avoid future litigations concerning the legality of registration of members and the proper composition of the Board.”

The PSU is advocating for the Ministry of Health to rectify this inconsistency to ensure the Pharmacy Board operates strictly within the legal framework established by the Pharmacy and Drugs Act. The council has directed that its resolution be formally communicated to key figures within the Ministry of Health and other relevant bodies.