The National Drug Authority (NDA) has concluded a week-long enforcement operation across five districts in northeastern Uganda, resulting in the closure of more than 105 illegal drug outlets.
The operation, aimed at protecting the public from unsafe medicines, covered Kaberamaido, Ngora, Kapelebyong, Kalaki, and Soroti.
During the crackdown, NDA inspectors impounded 260 boxes of assorted classified medicines valued at approximately Shs65 million after discovering multiple regulatory violations in the sale and handling of drugs.
Tom Makumbi, NDA regional inspector of drugs, said the most common issues identified included operating in unsuitable premises, running unlicensed facilities, and using unqualified personnel to dispense medicines.
“These practices contribute to the circulation of poor-quality drugs, irrational use of medicines, treatment failures, and antimicrobial resistance,” Makumbi said.
Kabiramaido Named Worst Offender
Makumbi revealed that surveillance prior to the operation showed Kabiramaido district had the highest level of illegal drug activity, making it the worst offender during the exercise.
“Based on our surveillance, we established that the worst offender currently is Kabiramaido district, and most of the cases of illegality came from Kabiramaido,” he said.
The district alone accounted for 44 of the impounded medicine boxes—the highest among all districts covered.
“These operations are no longer a case of running around in the field like headless chicken. We do surveillance and we plan very carefully,” Makumbi explained.
Makumbi clarified that the operation’s main objective was to encourage compliance rather than punish operators with arrests.
“So, ours is not to put people in jail, contrary to what the community thinks. Our aim is to ensure ongoing compliance,” he said.
He noted that NDA employs a “carrot and stick” approach to help operators formalize their businesses.
“Our objective is not to punish the operators. The major objective is to elicit compliance,” Makumbi said. He added that the closed outlets are expected to return for licensing and guidance.
Progress in Licensing
NDA also reported improvements in compliance compared to the previous year. A year ago, the region had 884 licensed Class C drug shops, while current figures show 1,010 Class C shops, indicating that some previously closed outlets have now converted to licensed facilities.
Makumbi explained that limited funding prevents NDA from covering all 19 districts in the northeastern region at once.
“If you have Shs10,000, you cannot buy yourself a bottle of beer yet there is no food in the home. You first buy food,” he said, highlighting the need to prioritize high-risk areas.
The public has been urged to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and drug shops and to report any suspected illegal activities.
NDA also directed all unlicensed operators to immediately cease operations until licensing requirements are met, noting that the 2026 licensing cycle is already underway.
Makumbi warned that illegal medicine sales, particularly in open markets, continue to pose a major threat to public health and pledged ongoing surveillance and targeted enforcement across the region.