By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu,
Mbarara
The National Drug Authority (NDA) has concluded a five-day enforcement targeting drug outlets in the South Western region. This covered the nine districts of Ibanda, Isingiro, Kamwenge, Kitagwenda, Kiruhura, Ntungamo, Kasese, Rwampara, Mbarara, and Mbarara City. The compliance enforcement was aimed at ensuring that drug outlets comply with licensing regulations and have qualified staff.
A total of 152 drug outlets that were operating without licenses and qualified staff were closed, while a total of 340 boxes of assorted medicines that were not authorized were impounded. The estimated value of these drugs was worth 85 million Uganda shillings.
The affected operators of the closed drug outlets have been advised to visit the NDA’s South Western region offices in Mbarara to be guided on how to comply and receive their medicines.
NDA has called upon all drug outlet operators who are still running illegal outlets or with unqualified personnel to immediately halt all operations until they acquire operating licenses.
The NDA has also appealed to the general public to always consider buying drugs from only licensed drug outlets. This will ensure that they obtain genuine and quality medicine.
Moreover, the NDA’s enforcement team discovered government drugs in St Francis drug shop in Rutookye, Mitooma district, and Glorious drug shop in Kagamba, Ntungamo district. These drug outlets were owned by Tumuhimbise Glorious.
Overall, the NDA’s enforcement efforts in the South Western region have successfully ensured that drug outlets operating without licenses and unqualified staff stopped their operations.
