Uganda: NDA Arrests Two Isingiro Health Workers Over Theft of 500,000 Doses of Arvs

12 December 2025
Nile Post (Kampala)
By Ramson Muhairwe

The National Drug Authority (NDA) has arrested two health workers from Nyamuyanja Health Centre IV in Isingiro District over the alleged theft of government drugs, including more than 500,000 doses of life-saving antiretroviral medicines (ARVs).

The operation, conducted in partnership with security agencies, led to the arrest of Muzahura John Baptist, a Senior Clinical Officer who had been on the run after a raid on his home in Nyamitanga, Mbarara City uncovered a large consignment of stolen medical supplies.

According to NDA, the recovered items included 500,000 ARV doses, 2,680 doses of antimalarials, 11,500 malaria testing kits, and several other pharmaceuticals such as amoxicillin sodium injection, gentamicin injection, calcium lactate tablets, povidone iodine, and amoxicillin tablets. All the drugs bore the official "Government of Uganda - Not for Sale" mark.

NDA officials say documentation from Nyamuyanja Health Centre IV confirmed that the items had been stolen from the facility's stores, allegedly with the help of Muzahura's colleague, Balhubasa Bridget, a Health Information Assistant and the facility's Stores In-Charge.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

Bridget was arrested on December 2 in Kasese and later arraigned before the Isingiro Chief Magistrate's Court, where she pleaded guilty to theft of government drugs. She was on December 11 sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Muzahura, who was tracked down and taken into custody after several days of hiding, is expected to face charges of illegal possession of government stores under 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.

NDA says the latest arrests are part of a sustained crackdown on the theft and illegal sale of government-supplied medicines--an entrenched problem undermining public health care delivery.

Since 2019, the Authority has recovered stolen government medicines worth more than UGX 15 billion and arrested over 62 suspects, including 43 health officials, a soldier and a police officer. Several of the cases have led to convictions, among them the October 7 sentencing of former Kayunga Hospital drug dispenser Kibalya Ronald Nditusawa and his accomplices, who received up to four years in prison after they were found with over 64,800 doses of stolen ARVs.

NDA commended the joint efforts of security agencies, particularly UPDF's Deputy Director of Counter-Intelligence, Brig. Abdul Rugumayo, as well as teams from the Special Forces Command (SFC) and Internal Security Organisation (ISO), for supporting ongoing investigations into what officials describe as a "highly syndicated crime".

Read the original article on Nile Post.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2025 Nile Post. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 120 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.