A 39-year-old man has been arrested in Mukono District for allegedly impersonating an inspector from the National Drug Authority (NDA), in a case that has sparked renewed concerns about fraud in Uganda’s pharmaceutical sector.
According to NDA, the suspect, identified as Awala James, a resident of Seeta Bagala Zone, was intercepted at Provan Pharmacy in Banda Zone IV on September 6, 2025, while claiming to be a drug inspector.
“With the support of the Uganda Police Force, on September, 6, 2025 at Provan Pharmacy in Banda Zone IV, we arrested Awala James, a 39-year-old male Ugandan resident of Seeta Bagala Zone in Mukono District, who was falsely presenting himself as a National Drug Authority employee at the level of a drug inspector,” the NDA said in a statement.
The Authority revealed that Awala had been under surveillance for some time before his arrest, noting that other suspects linked to the scheme are still on the run.
“NDA will continue tracking others until they are also apprehended,” the statement added.
Awala is currently detained at Kyambogo Police Station under file number KYU CRB 072/2025 and, according to NDA, “will be presented before the Courts of Law at any time.”
In a strong warning to the public, NDA urged vigilance against impersonators.
“Always contact NDA and Police whenever anybody requests money to offer a service or attempts to intimidate you in any way,” the agency advised.
The Authority also called on pharmacies and drug shop operators to remain alert and immediately report any suspicious individuals attempting to pose as NDA staff.
