The National Drug Authority (NDA) has urged the public to exercise caution when purchasing HIV test kits following an investigation that uncovered the sale of expired diagnostics in downtown Kampala.
According to NDA Public Relations Officer Abiaz Rwamwiri, an enforcement operation over the weekend led to a raid on several shops along Wilson Street, resulting in the arrest of ten suspects. The suspects were found in possession of HIV test kits and antiretroviral drugs with tampered expiry dates, a tactic used to falsely extend their shelf life.
Further investigations revealed the presence of government-labeled anti-malarial drugs marked “Government of Uganda, not for sale,” indicating possible theft or illegal distribution of public health supplies.
This latest enforcement action in Kampala follows a similar operation in Eastern Uganda, where authorities discovered HIV drugs, anti-malarial treatments, and test kits being sold in open-air markets in Bukhaweka and Butilu in Namisindwa District, as well as Arapai in Soroti City.
Health experts have expressed concern over the dangerous consequences of such illegal practices, warning that individuals relying on inaccurate HIV test results could unknowingly expose themselves to the virus.
