On 12th February, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health Dr. Diana Atwine told journalists at the government Media Center that the Ministry would soon destroy about 1,500 tons of expired drugs. “These are medicines that have been accumulating in 6,612 facilities for the last 6 – 7 years.” Said, Dr. Diana Atwine – Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health. This did not go well with some sections of the public who expressed mixed feelings about the plan. members of the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) demanded accountability for the funds to be used in the destroying of the drugs saying this expense was unnecessary since the government had not allocated enough money to buy drugs. “Why is it that we have expired drugs to be destroyed when we are crying of stock outs.” Said, Julius Mukunda – Executive Director, CSBAG.

The Executive Director of the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group Julius Mukunda who addressed journalists at their office in Ntinda Kampala said they also wanted an inventory of the expired drugs. He added that many people complained that they often didn't find adequate drugs at the public health facilities. “Items worth 3.5 billion were still undistributed at the National Medical Stores for one reason or the other.” Said, the Executive Director, CSBAG. “Drugs included Coartem or mama kits that are needed by most of these health centers and these are drugs they say are never there for the supply.” Said, Sophie Nampewo – Budget Policy Specialist.

“Rarely, you would see for example paracetamol. …never because those are medicines that have high turnover.” The activists planned to petition Parliament to look into the management of drugs in the country. “To ensure that drug management in this country improves.” The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group tasked the Health Ministry to compile a list of public health facilities with expired drugs and set the reasons for the expiry to better understand the problem.