KAMPALA, UGANDA — The National Drug Authority (NDA) has issued a critical public advisory regarding the distribution of compromised HIV self-test kits, following a recent operation in Kampala’s Central Business District. The authority’s intervention was prompted by the discovery of expired diagnostic tools being illicitly sold within local pharmacies.
Over the weekend, NDA enforcement teams executed raids along Wilson Street, Kampala, leading to the apprehension of ten individuals. Abiaz Rwamwiri, the NDA’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed that the suspects were found in possession of substantial quantities of HIV medications and test kits exhibiting manipulated expiry dates.
These alterations were designed to fraudulently prolong the perceived usability of the products. Additionally, the operation yielded numerous boxes of anti-malarial pharmaceuticals bearing the label “Government of Uganda, Not for Sale,” indicating unauthorized diversion.
This enforcement action in Kampala’s city center follows a prior initiative in eastern Uganda, where the NDA confronted the unregulated sale of HIV medications, anti-malarial drugs, and diagnostic kits in informal market settings. Locations targeted included Bukhaweka and Butilu in Namisindwa district, and Arapai in Soroti city.
Health professionals have expressed grave concerns that the proliferation of expired diagnostic tools presents a significant public health risk. The use of such compromised tests could result in inaccurate health assessments, potentially leading to the spread of HIV as individuals make critical healthcare decisions based on unreliable results.
In a separate development, earlier this month, the NDA, operating under authorization from the Makindye Utilities Court, facilitated the distribution of confiscated government-supplied pharmaceuticals to healthcare facilities experiencing shortages. These medications were allocated to government hospitals across six districts: Luweero, Kayunga, Buikwe, Buvuma, Mukono, and Nakasongola, all of which had reported recurrent stockouts of anti-retroviral therapies.
The NDA has reiterated its commitment to aggressively combat illicit pharmaceutical activities, emphasizing its dedication to protecting public health and ensuring the accessibility of authentic and safe medical products. As stated by Abiaz Rwamwiri, “several shops along Wilson Street in Kampala were raided over the weekend, resulting in the arrest of ten suspects.”
