Soroti | The National Drug Authority (NDA) seized drugs worth shs 40 million during a five-day enforcement operation targeting illegal drug outlets in Serere, Bukedea, and Kalaki districts in the Teso sub-region.
A total of 151 boxes containing various human and veterinary medicines were seized and are currently being held at the NDA North Eastern Region Office in Soroti City.
Dr. Musa Padde, NDA’s Regional Inspector of Drugs, emphasised that the goal is not to keep the seized medicine, but to encourage outlet owners to work with the regional office to meet licencing requirements.
He stated that if the owners of the confiscated drugs do not claim them, they will be destroyed.
Dr. Padde stated that Teso continues to face significant challenges with illegal drug sales, prompting the creation of a regional office in Soroti.
For example, Kalaki districts had 100 licenced outlets last year, but 35 illegal outlets were discovered during the recent operation, indicating that approximately three out of every ten drug shops were unlicensed.
Dr. Tom Mukumbi, Senior Inspector of Drugs Enforcement at the NDA, stated that violators of the National Drug Policy and Authority Act Sec.14 (3) could face up to 5 years in prison, a shs2 million fine, or both.
Mukumbi praised the community’s vigilance, noting that none of the impounded boxes contained government medicines or expired drugs.
On June 5, 2024, the National Drug Authority had 3,321 licenced outlets in Uganda, including 1,026 wholesale pharmacies, 1,871 retail pharmacies, 270 medical device outlets, 114 external stores, and 40 pharmaceutical manufacturers.
By Robert Edwomu.
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