Chinese national, 47 Ugandans arrested for drug fraud

A Chinese national arrested for alleged involvement in multiple drug fraud is set to be deported, according to the National Drug Authority (NDA). 

Liu Weiliang was arrested in an operation by the ministry of Health in collaboration with NDA and the Uganda Police Force. He is believed to have been working with some Ugandan nationals to change the date of expired drugs and then sell them to the unsuspecting public. 

According to NDA, the suspects would rub off the expiry date on the package of drugs and give them a new date before distributing them to his unsuspecting victims. Samuel Kyomukama, the head of enforcement NDA, says Weiliang will be deported to China and never be allowed to step foot in Uganda ever again.  

 

"The Chinese man appeared before the chief magistrate on Tuesday for sentencing after he’d pleaded guilty to the charges and he was convicted and sentenced to a fine of Shs 2m because that is what is provided for in our current act. I wish it was providing for more than that, and the chief magistrate gave an order that he be deported back to China." Kyomukama said. 

Weiliang, who is believed to have been running his operations along Kampala road, was found with antibiotics donated by the Indian government for treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and meningitis.  

Dr Medard Bitekyerezo, the NDA board chairperson says something needs to be done to revise the NDA law so that harsher punishments are given to criminals like Weiliang. According to the current law, people charged with tampering with medication are liable to a one-year imprisonment or a fine of Shs 2 million if found guilty.

In the same operation, 47 Ugandans were also arrested for selling government drugs, operating unlicensed pharmacies and drug shops and smuggling unlicensed drugs to other countries like Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. At least 981 boxes of assorted medical items valued at Shs 490 million were impounded during the operation. 165 of the 981 boxes had medicine meant for public health facilities. 

Kyomukama says that they are still carrying out investigations to find out where the drugs came from.

 

“We are investigating the authenticity of the batch numbers before we can work together with NMS to cross check their origin.”   

The Ugandan suspects are Sarah Nakito, Ahmed Yusuf, Joshua Agaba, Sarah Nakato, Milton Kalongo, Wilson Muhindo, Dr Rogers Mwesigwa, Sam Odeke, Gloria Acio, Ben Orisha, Emmanuel Opio, Simon Opio, Joseph Achau, Florence Akello, Issach Okwi, Sam Onyait, James Otim, Silver Moses Okerenya, Lucy Alado, Betty Atim, Robert Oluka, Joseph Ocola, Simon Peter Akorikin, Grace Itait, Sanday Aiyurworth, Emmanuel Kairanga Matege, Maurine Nafula and Simon Okello.   

The others are Justine Okello, Simon Imukot, John Ekopit, Emmanuel Okello, Agnes Akello, Annet Ajilong, Christopher Ekoju, Samuel Akulu, Hellen Akello, Goreti Wesesa, Solomon Wajala, Aisha Namisi, Hajara Nambi, Ronald Gidui (and two others), George Makubuya, Onesmus Namwezi, Frank Namanya, Debora Nalule, Joseph, Deo Mbamukeyi and Abdu Maganda.