The National Drug Authority (NDA), in collaboration with the Uganda Police, has arrested an individual selling illegal hypertension drugs using Artificial Intelligence-generated videos mimicking doctors from the Uganda Heart Institute.
Luke Owoyesigyire, Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, said Nicholas Ogenga was apprehended in Nakasero, Kampala, following a complaint by Dr. Emmy Okello, a cardiologist at the Uganda Heart Institute, who reported that his image had been manipulated to market a product called “HyperGuard.”
“There was an alarming attempt to exploit patients by falsely claiming a cure for hypertension using doctored videos,” Owoyesigyire said.
Abiaz Rwamwiri, NDA spokesperson, confirmed that HyperGuard is not approved for use in Uganda and is counterfeit. Authorities recovered over 500 bottles of HyperGuard during a raid, along with another illegal product, Long Jack XXXL, marketed as a male sexual booster. The packaging of HyperGuard lacked proper labeling and informational leaflets for users.
Dr. Okello warned that some patients had already started using the fake drug and urged anyone who has taken it to seek medical testing.
Experts reiterated that there is no definitive cure for hypertension. Dr. John Omagino, Executive Director of the Uganda Heart Institute, explained that high blood pressure can cause heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure, requiring a combination of lifestyle management, diet, exercise, and regular medical check-ups rather than a single “magic” pill.
With one in four Ugandan adults living with hypertension, Dr. Omagino emphasized the importance of caution against false claims. Preliminary reports indicate that each 10ml bottle of HyperGuard sold for 165,000 shillings. NDA has sent samples to the laboratory to determine the drug’s contents.
