Dr. Charles Ayume
Koboko Municipality MP, Dr. Charles Ayume has called on Ugandans to unite in protecting government medicines, saying drug theft is a betrayal of the nation’s health and must be treated as a common enemy.
Dr Ayume, who also chairs Parliament’s Committee on Health, said the misuse of medicines meant for public hospitals was not just theft but “an attack on life itself.”
“You are not stealing a phone or money—you are stealing life. When you steal medicine, you deny a patient treatment, and that is something we must all stand against,” he said in an interview.
National Concern
Drug pilferage has become one of Uganda’s most pressing health challenges. According to the Ministry of Health, nearly one in every three Ugandans has at some point failed to access prescribed medicine at a government facility due to shortages—some of which are linked to theft.
Medicines clearly marked “Government of Uganda – Not for Sale” are often recovered from private outlets, undermining trust in the public health system. The National Medical Stores (NMS) recently reported that common targets include malaria drugs, HIV medicines, and even blood supplies.
Malaria alone still kills more than 16,000 Ugandans every year. “Every box of Coartem stolen is a death sentence for a family that cannot afford treatment,” Dr Ayume noted.
Community Responsibility
The MP urged citizens, health workers, and leaders at all levels to act as guardians of the country’s medicine supply.
“I call upon every Ugandan to join hands. This is not a fight for government alone. It is a fight for all of us—local leaders, health workers, religious leaders, and ordinary citizens. Together we can protect our medicines and protect our lives,” he said.
Government has introduced reforms including digital tracking of drug consignments, embossed labeling, and public sensitisation campaigns. But Dr Ayume believes community vigilance is the missing link.
“When medicines reach the patients they are meant for, hope reaches our families. When they are stolen, it is our communities that suffer. This is why unity is so important,” he said.
Protecting Whistleblowers
Dr Ayume also appealed for stronger protection of whistleblowers and harsher penalties for culprits. He stressed that unity and collective vigilance would be Uganda’s most powerful tool in ending the vice.
“When we unite, we save lives. When we ignore theft, we allow death. The choice is ours as a nation,” he concluded.
