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Lance Corporal Jimmy Kisembo was arrested by NDA over for stealing government drugs
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By Our Reporter
The National Drug Authority (NDA) has arrested a Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) officer attached to Kabamba Military Hospital in Mubende District for the alleged theft of more than 150,000 doses of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) from the facility.
Lance Corporal Jimmy Kisembo, who also serves as a laboratory technician at the hospital, was apprehended at a private house in Mpumude, where he had reportedly gone to sell the stolen drugs.
Lance Corporal Jimmy Kisembo was arrested by NDA over for stealing government drugs
In the same operation, NDA operatives also arrested Musoke Maayi, an enrolled nurse in charge of Makoole Health Centre II. She was allegedly found with 3,000 doses of antimalarial drugs and 12,500 malaria testing kits that had been stolen from the facility and moved to a private house for sale.
NDA spokesperson Abias Rwamwiri said the arrests followed an intelligence-led operation aimed at curbing the theft and illegal sale of government drugs.
"After the arrests, our team verified hospital records and managed to link the recovered ARVs, antimalarials, and malaria testing kits to the military hospital and the health centre store documents," Rwamwiri said.
He added that the two suspects have been handed over to the Police and will face two counts: illegal possession of government stores, contrary to Section 286(2) of the Penal Code Act, and illegal possession of classified drugs, contrary to Section 27(2) of the National Drug Policy and Authority Act.
Rwamwiri revealed that since 2019, the NDA has been conducting special operations targeting the theft of government drugs. "Over the last six years, we have recovered drugs worth Sh13 billion and arrested more than 60 suspects, including 40 health workers, a soldier, and a police officer," he said.
Some ofthe stolen drugs
The arrests have led to several convictions, including the recent sentencing of Kibalya Ronald Nditusawa, a former drug dispenser at Kayunga Hospital, and his accomplices. On October 7, 2025, they were sentenced to four years in prison after being found in possession of 68,400 doses of ARVs stolen from government hospitals.
Rwamwiri expressed appreciation for the collaboration with security agencies that made the latest operation possible. "We appreciate the UPDF and its sister agencies—CMI, ISO, and SFC—for aiding access to military stores and documents, which enabled us to complete our investigations," he said.
He also appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report any cases related to drug theft or illegal drug sales. "We call upon members of the public to be our eyes and ears in the fight against the theft of government medicines," he said.
Torch Media Africa
