Veterinary officer Arrested for Counterfeiting Vet Drugs

The National Drug Authority (NDA) has arrested Philly Kikaawa a licensed and qualified Para-Veterinarian in Mutukula town Kyotera district for perpetually falsifying /counterfeiting veterinary drugs.

Abiaz Rwamwiri, the NDA Public Relations Manager said the arrest followed an intelligence that the suspect, with the aid of other accomplices who are currently on run has been counterfeiting and smuggling veterinary drugs from the neighbouring Tanzania and also selling his counterfeited products back to Tanzania through Mutukula boarder.

Kikaawa was found in possession of counterfeited Alberfas 10% (a dewormer) manufactured by Norbrook Uganda Limited, Supona Extra, an acaricide brand manufactured by Eram Uganda Limited and a purported acaricide labelled PARANEX whose ingredients / composition is yet to be established.

Rwamwiri said Kikaawa is currently held at Mutukula Police under file case number MTKLACRB: 093/2021.

“His case is being processed to appear and he will be aligned in the criminal court and where he will be charged with, Supply of impure drugs, supply and dispensing of restricted drugs, Supply of restricted drugs with wrong container and labels and Possession of classified drugs,” Rwamwiri said.

Kikaawa’s arrest comes at a time when there has been outcry from famers about non-performance of some of the veterinary products in on the market as a result of drug resistance to spraying drugs and deformers.

Rwamwiri says NDA has been conducting targeted crack down operations on counterfeiting of agrochemicals and early last year, several culprits were arrested making and selling fake Tick Burn and Mutambirente in other cattle corridor districts.

He called upon the public to be vigilant and report all suspicious activities of counterfeiting / falsifying drugs to NDA.