NDA Arrests Dr Ssali for Claiming to Cure AIDS with Onion Concoction

Uganda National Drug Authority (NDA) has arrested one Ssali David who has been making misleading treatment claims including HIV/AIDS cure.

The NDA enforcement team and police found Ssali in possession of several unauthorized medicines.

“We call upon Ugandans to remain vigilant while seeking health care,” NDA said in a tweet.

According to a business card shared by NDA, the suspect is Dr Ssali of Dama Medical Herbals, a herbal company that specialises in Herbal Medicine, Nutritional Supplements, and Skin Care Products.

“Professor Dr. David Ssali the brain behind the venture has more than 30 years of experience and started his research by studying and understanding peoples’ lifestyles, nutrition, and hygiene. He has discovered a good number of herbal medicines that have been tested and have no side effects compared to conventional medicine,” reads a statement on the company’s website.

Abiaz Rwamwiri, the NDA spokesperson, told Daily Monitor that the arrest followed public outcry and other intelligence information gathered by the drug authority and police.

According to him, Ssali has been for some time using social media, particularly TikTok illegally to promote drugs and make misleading treatment and cure claims, including curing HIV/AIDs using onions.

“This contravenes the NDA Act and other health policies. So, after gathering our intelligence information, we have worked with police and arrested him,” Rwamwiri is quoted as saying.

Ssali was operating a clinic in Kampala without a license from Allied Health Professionals Council.

He was also found promoting and selling over 20 unlicensed products.

On June 21, NDA’s intelligence and enforcement team tracked and together with police arrested Harriet Namusisi who was found in possession of the government of Uganda labelled drugs estimated at UGX. 5million.

Harriet is a midwife attached at Luwero Hospital and is currently held at Luwero Central Police Station.

Harriet faces two charges; illegal possession of government stores which contravenes section 316 of the Penal Code Act and unlawful possession of classified drugs which is contrary to section 27(2) of the National Drug Policy and Authority Act.