The National Drug Authority (NDA) has closed at least 45 illegal clinics across northern Uganda in an ongoing crackdown against unlicensed medical operations and theft of government drugs.
The one-week enforcement operation, conducted in Kitgum, Gulu, Amolatar, Pader, and Kwania districts, also led to the impounding of 189 boxes of assorted medicines valued at over Shs 125 million, according to NDA spokesperson Abiaz Rwamwiri.
He said several suspects were arrested for unlawful possession of government drugs, including Alexander Odiya, director of Health Care Drug in Pader at Acholibur trading centre; Emmanuel Kizza, director of Mighty Medical Clinic; Andrew Omara, Edmond Okadia, Hanold Odoi, and Alexandra Ogwang.
Rwamwiri added that the suspects face charges of illegal possession of government drugs and unauthorised operation of clinics and pharmacies, which are pending sanction by the state attorney.
Once approved, the files will be forwarded to the Utility court in Kampala, which handles cases of wildlife crime and theft of government drugs.
“We need to save lives because the difference between drugs and poison is in how they are used and stored. It’s very dangerous if drugs aren’t kept properly,” Rwamwiri said.
The impounded items include anti-malarials, malaria test kits, and antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, many of which were meant for lower-level government health facilities. NDA says these drugs were being sold in private clinics and pharmacies without authorisation.
According to Rwamwiri, over 100 cases of drug theft from government health facilities are currently active in various courts, including 18 cases before the Utility court. He cited a recent incident on October 8, 2025, in which a medical officer was intercepted in Nansana with more than 68,000 doses of ARVs allegedly stolen from Kamuli district, where he worked.
NDA records show that since 2019, government has recovered stolen drugs worth over Shs 13 billion, underscoring the scale of the problem.
“It’s a highly concealed crime because the perpetrators know the repercussions. The facilities where they keep these drugs are often unhygienic and unsafe,” Rwamwiri noted.
The chief regional inspector of drugs for Northern Uganda, Zablon Igilikwayo, said smugglers are exploiting porous borders to traffic stolen and expired drugs into South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Some of the drugs have already expired, yet they are being administered to patients by health workers. This poses serious health risks,” Igilikwayo said.
NDA maintains that enforcement operations will continue across the country to curb the circulation of stolen and substandard medicines, protect patients, and restore integrity in Uganda’s health supply chain.
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