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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Alfred Edakasi, Member of Parliament for Kaberamaido County, has called on fellow legislators to make better use of government-issued drug stock alerts to help curb the persistent theft of medicines from public health facilities.
Edakasi acknowledged that the government has invested heavily in monitoring systems, including a mechanism where MPs receive SMS notifications each time drugs are delivered to health centres in their constituencies.
The messages include details on quantities and types of medicines supplied.
“The government has put in a lot of effort to address drug pilferage in our public health facilities,” Edakasi said.
“Right now, every Member of Parliament receives the message whenever drugs are stocked, and we know how many drugs are going, what has gone there, and things like that. But still, the challenge is there among the medical workers.”
He noted that while some theft is perpetrated by health workers, in certain cases members of the public also collude in the crime, particularly when acquiring large quantities of medicines for personal gain or resale.
“To make it worse, the population sometimes connives with the medical workers,” Edakasi said. “They are willing to pay money, more especially if they’re taking a large share of medicine.”
The MP urged his colleagues to actively follow up on the alerts they receive, visiting health centres to verify deliveries, check stock levels, and question discrepancies.
“These notifications are not just for information—they are a tool for accountability,” he stressed. “If we, as leaders, don’t act on them, then we are leaving the door open for theft and misuse.”
A recent survey found that many Ugandans are aware of drug theft in their area, with insider collusion being a common factor.
Edakasi said this makes MP oversight critical, as legislators can help reinforce community vigilance and pressure district health officials to address gaps.
“We must work hand in hand with the community and ensure these medicines reach the intended patients,” he said.
“If leaders use the information at their disposal wisely, we can close the loopholes that drug thieves exploit.”
