Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1225 EAT on Monday 27 October 2025

The National Drug Authority (NDA) has recovered more than 150,000 doses of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs during a special operation that led to the arrest of a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer and a nurse implicated in the theft of government medicines.

The operation followed intelligence reports indicating that large quantities of government-supplied medicines were being diverted from public health facilities and sold illegally in private outlets. Acting on this information, NDA enforcement teams, working jointly with security agencies, launched a targeted crackdown in Sembabule District, where the suspects were apprehended.

Mr. Rwamwiri condemned the theft and illegal sale of government medicines, saying such actions undermine public health efforts and deny patients access to essential treatment. “These drugs are procured by the government using taxpayers’ money to save lives, not for personal gain,” he said. “We will continue working with security agencies to ensure that anyone involved in the theft or illegal sale of medical supplies is brought to justice.”

According to The Observer, Mr. Rwamwiri noted that Lance Corporal Kisembo becomes the second security operative to be implicated in the theft of government drugs, following the arrest of a police officer in a similar operation earlier this year.

He said the ongoing operations are part of the NDA’s wider efforts to curb the theft and illegal sale of government medicines. Since 2019, NDA enforcement drives have led to the arrest of over 60 suspects, including 40 government health workers, and the recovery of stolen drugs valued at more than Shs 13 billion, Mr. Rwamwiri added.

The latest arrests come just weeks after the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court sentenced Ronald Kibalye, a health worker from Kayunga Hospital, to four years in prison for illegal possession of more than 64,000 doses of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.

The newly arrested suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to face two charges — illegal possession of government stores, contrary to Section 296(2) of the Penal Code Act, and illegal possession of classified drugs, contrary to Section 27(2) of the National Drug Policy and Authority Act.

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