NDA recovers sh200m worth of govt drugs from homes

The National Drug Authority (NDA) has recovered 106 boxes of different assortment of government drugs including anti-retroviral drugs and 99 body bags from different homes.

They were intercepted during an operation by the NDA enforcement team in Kampala and Wakiso areas NDA enforcement team and Police.

They were intercepted from Nalumunye, Kitemu, Salama Road, Kyanja, Rubaga and Nansana and six culprits were arrested.

The NDA head of enforcement, Samuel Kyomukama said through their intelligence network, they managed to get information about suspected drugs housed in specific homes.

"We decided to mount an operation in the said homes; and found these drugs in five homes out of the eight," he explained.

NDA's Samuel Kyomukama (left) with William Tamale show some of the drugs that were seized in the operation. Photo by Godiver Asege

The culprits are detained at Kira, Nansana, Katwe and Old Kampala Police stations.

Kyomukama was reluctant to reveal the identities of those arrested, saying it might jeopardise their investigations.

All the impounded drugs were labelled "Government of Uganda", and an anti-hypertensive labelled "Donations from Government of India".

The impounded drugs include; Lumartem, Ceftriaxone, sutures, anti-retroviral drugs, sutures, and absorbent gauze.

The NDA head of regions, William Tamale, said they want to investigate and know how the suspects got access to the government drugs and others who may be involved.

The drugs are estimated to be worth over sh200million.

Tamale said all marks indicating ‘Government of Uganda, Not for Sale' were erased and the packaging changed.

The authority's public relations officers, Fredrick Ssekyana, said those arrested are to face charges including being in possession of government drugs, handling drugs when they are not supposed to handle them and storing drugs in unlicensed premises.

They urged the public to always report through their toll-free line 0800 101 999 in case of such suspicions.