A joint operation conducted by the National Drug Authority (NDA) and Uganda Police Force in Bushenyi district has led to the arrest of six suspects accused of selling fake acaricides. They are Deo Marks Mubangizi, Cleophus Kyobutungi, Steven Bamwine, Jude Agaaba, and Asiimwe Mwesigye and Urban Agaba.
Abias Rwamwiri, the Spokesperson of the National Drug Authority, says that Agaba is a lecturer from the School of Clinical Medicine at Kampala International University Ishaka in Bushenyi and owns a printery business.
He says that the suspect has been using his printer to print labels he puts in the counterfeit livestock drugs like Bimectin Plus. Rwamwiri says during the targeted operation, they found Agaba in possession of several fake academic documents for animal and human medicine practitioners.
Marshal Tumusiime, the Greater Bushenyi police spokesperson, says that the six were arrested from Ishaka town and are employees of St Jude computer solutions, where they have been printing labels for drugs and academic certificates.
Dr. Jeanne Muhindo, the Head of Veterinary at National Drug Authority, says that Authority has been receiving complaints of fake drugs being sold in Bushenyi. She says that they have repeatedly warned people against selling non-authorized drugs.
Dr. Donald Bamanya, the chairperson of Allied Health Professional Council, says that during the operation they managed to notice that some of the documents being used are forged.
Yason Nuwabaine, a consultant with Agriculture Hands-on Organisation, says that with fake drugs a farmer can recover but for a fake veterinary doctor farmers lose animals because of inappropriate treatment.
He wants the Authority to focus on fake veterinary doctors.
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