National Drug Authority Shuts Down 109 Illegal Outlets in South Eastern Uganda

The National Drug Authority (NDA) has intensified its nationwide compliance operations by closing 109 illegal drug outlets across the districts of Kamuli, Luuka, Bugiri, and Jinja. The weeklong enforcement drive in the South Eastern Region also led to the seizure of 260 boxes of assorted medicines valued at more than Shs65 million.

Addressing reporters in Kampala, NDA spokesperson Abiaz Rwamwiri noted that the targeted facilities were operating in unauthorized premises without proper licenses. Furthermore, many of these outlets employed unqualified personnel to dispense medications, posing severe public health hazards.

According to the NDA, such practices directly fuel the circulation of substandard drugs, irrational medication use, treatment failures, and rising antimicrobial resistance. Operators affected by the crackdown have been directed to the NDA regional office in Jinja City to seek proper guidance on regulatory compliance.

This regional operation follows several recent high-profile enforcement actions by the authority. Notably, a Kampala court recently sentenced a serial drug dealer to three years in prison after he was found in possession of classified pharmaceuticals worth a quarter of a billion shillings. Other recent operations in Kampala led to the recovery of stolen government medicines, including HIV prevention treatments and thousands of doses of ARVs.

The NDA continues to urge all unlicensed operators, particularly in the Eastern region, to halt their activities immediately until they meet all legal requirements. The authority has also reminded the public to exclusively purchase medicine from licensed pharmacies and drug shops while reporting any suspicious operations.

Read more about this story in the Daily Monitor.