NDA busts illegal drug dealer

DRUGS     THEFT 

KAMPALA - For a long time, 38-year-old Hebert Mundere had been dealing in the illegal sale of an assortment of medicines, some of which belonged to the Government of Uganda.

Mundere's ‘business' was however foiled by the National Drug Authority (NDA) during a crackdown exercise over the weekend.

NDA impounded a total of 83 boxes of drugs including antimalarials, anti-biotics and Antiretroviral drugs such as Atazanavir/ritonavir, from Mundere's home in Rubaga division, according to Samuel Kyomukama, the Authority's Head of Enforcement.

Currently detained at the Old Kampala Police Station, Kyomukama said Mundere faces charges of dealing in drugs without any qualification or license.

He was in possession of drugs worth sh40m.

Giving a history of Mundere's dealings, Dr. Medard Bitekyerezo, the NDA chairperson said he had created stores in Rubaga, Nalumunye, and Matugga where he stored the stolen drugs from across the country.

Samuel Kyomukama Head of Enforcement National Drug Authority addressing journalists at National Drug Authority offices in Kampala on Monday 4 November 2019. Photo by karim Ssozi.

 
"Upon accumulating stock, he would then load them on lorries and export mainly to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)," Bitekyerezo said.

The enforcement team however discovered that Mundere stored the drugs in poorly designed places which could have led some to get contaminated.

NDA has so far conducted four major operations in Kampala where they intercepted three trailers with 918 boxes of assorted drugs valued at sh490m. Of these, 165 boxes had medicines meant for public health facilities.

So far, six culprits have been arrested. They include George Makubuya in Rubaga, Frank Namanya, and Onesmus Nimuhwezi in Nansana, Deo Mburakeye of Salama and one Nalongo Deborah Nalule and Joseph Babihize of Kyanja.