Parliament on Thursday passed the National Drug and Health Products Authority Bill, 2025, amid growing concern over the proliferation of illicit and potentially harmful drinks on the Ugandan market.
The debate took a dramatic turn when Kazo County MP Dan Kimosho Atwijukire tabled 25 beverage products seized from different parts of the country as evidence. Many of the products, often marketed as energy boosters or herbal enhancers, are widely promoted through persuasive advertising.
Lawmakers warned of a “silent epidemic” of uncertified and toxic drinks flooding communities.
“When you move around our villages, you see people with swollen bodies and failing health,” Kimosho told the House. “They think they are gaining weight, but these unregulated concoctions are destroying their organs. We are losing a generation to ‘potency’ drinks that are actually poisons.”
The developments highlight a growing crisis, with illicit alcohol estimated at 6 trillion shillings—about 67% of Uganda’s alcohol market.
Kimosho said many of the products carry forged quality marks or exploit regulatory gaps between food and medicine to evade inspection and taxation.
According to Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng, the new law addresses these gaps by transforming the National Drug Authority into the National Drug and Health Products Authority, with an expanded mandate to regulate medical devices, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements—categories frequently abused by illicit manufacturers.
The law introduces tougher penalties, including up to 15 years in prison for deceptive advertising, up from five years. Fines for falsifying products have also increased significantly, alongside stricter penalties for non-compliance.
The reforms are also aimed at helping Uganda reach Maturity Level 3 in regulatory standards, enabling local manufacturers to compete in global health procurement markets.
Recent data shows illicit trade costs Uganda an estimated 2.5 trillion shillings annually in lost revenue, with significant risks across sectors including alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.
Presiding over the session, Speaker Anita Among directed the Committee on Health and the Ministry of Trade to ensure strict enforcement.
“We cannot have a situation where a UNBS or NDA sticker is bought with a bribe while our people go blind or die from toxic drinks,” she warned.
The Bill now awaits presidential assent. Once signed into law, the new authority will have expanded powers to recall products, shut down illegal operations, and prosecute those behind fraudulent health products.
