The National Drugs Authority (NDA) have in partnership with Uganda Police Force arrested six suspects in container village, Kampala from Njovu Farm Supply and Musajjawaza Farm Store for allegedly counterfeiting and selling impure vaccines of foot and mouth disease.
According to a statement from NDA on Friday July 15th 2022, the six were found in possession of over 20,000 dozes of the vaccine worth more than 100,000,000 Uganda Shillings.
The suspects are alleged to have been falsifying and branding the product purported to be coming from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries which is solely mandated to procure and import the FMD vaccines. They have been selling a 250 ml bottle with 80 doses at 300,000 Uganda Shillings.
They are said to have been storing the drugs under poor conditions and were all unqualified to handle vaccines which should only be handled by registered and licensed persons as per the National drug Authority Policy and Authority Act cap 206 section 13(1).
NDA spokesperson, Abiaz Rwamwiri also revealed that it is such counterfeit drugs that have led to persistent emergence of foot and mouth disease in the country especially in the cattle corridors.
NDA further appealed to the public to always buy drugs from NDA licensed outlets and to reports any drug related crimes.