A senior official in Uganda’s Kabale district has detailed new measures to combat the theft of public medicines, calling the approach a model for other regions battling widespread drug pilferage.
RDC Major Godfrey Katamba told reporters during an oversight visit that theft had been made nearly impossible.
“We have a system in place where no single health worker can steal or divert drugs without being noticed. The person who dispenses the medicine is not the same as the custodian. There are checks and balances at every point of the chain,” he said.
Drug diversion has been a major challenge in Uganda, where medicines supplied free of charge are often found in private pharmacies. Government studies have linked the problem to weak supervision and poor record-keeping. Katamba pointed to visible markings on government drugs as a deterrent.
“This inscription has helped us deal with unscrupulous individuals who might be tempted to smuggle government drugs into private pharmacies. The public now knows what belongs to them and what doesn’t,” he said.
The RDC added that dispensing registers are audited frequently and that internal security officers escort NMS consignments to ensure integrity.
“Whenever NMS delivers drugs to our district, we attach GISOs to accompany them. These officers witness the handover and ensure that the drugs are received and stocked properly,” he said.
Civil society groups have long urged greater community involvement in the fight against medicine theft. Katamba said Kabale is adopting that approach.
“This is not just about the RDC or the health workers. It’s about the people themselves taking responsibility. We want the community to join us in this fight against drug theft,” he said.
