Zurah Nakabugo
30 August 2007
Kampala — THE Police have arrested two people suspected of selling fake Hydroxine vaccine for cattle.
The suspects are Mr Vincent Kakooza of Najjanankumbi, and Mr Martin Kasule of Kabowa zone in Lubaga division.
"The suspects were found with fake Hydroxine vaccine meant for cows but instead, it was a tomato spray drug.
"They were selling each tin at $1,500 to $2000 (Shs3.4 million)," Kampala Extra Region Police Spokesman Simeo Nsubuga said.
He paraded the suspects and the fake products before journalists on Monday at the Central Police Station in Kampala.
Mr Nsubuga said the suspects had relabelled the two litre tins with hydroxine vaccine labels claiming it is made in Germany.
The genuine vaccine for cows is very expensive but the suspects were selling it at a cheaper price saying that they had smuggled it from the German embassy because it's not for export.
The suspects were mainly targeting cattle keepers from Nakasongola, Mbarara, Lyantonde, Kiboga, Hoima, Wakyato, Nakaseke, Mityana and Ibanda.
"We advise pastoralists to buy animal drugs from dealers authorised by the National Drug Authority to avoid buying fake products," Mr Nsubuga said. He said the suspects would be charged with possession of fake products.
Daily Monitor early this month published a story in which many companies were exposed for dealing in fake products.
A tougher new law to punish dealers in such products has been proposed.
The Counterfeit Goods Bill, 2007, now before the cabinet, proposes heavy penalties for dealers in goods that are either substandard or outright counterfeits.
Upon conviction for the first time, a guilty person shall be punished "with a fine, in respect of each article or item involved in the particular act of dealing in counterfeit goods to which the offence relates, and such a fine shall not be less than three times the value of the prevailing retail price of the goods or imprisoned for a term not less than three years or both."
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