Health authorities have launched a campaign to sensitize herbalists in the Teso Sub-region on the importance of formalizing their businesses and registering their herbal products for public safety.
The initiative is being led by the National Drug Authority (NDA) ahead of stricter enforcement of regulations governing herbal medicines in Uganda.
The National Drug Authority was established in 1993 under the National Drug Policy and Authority Act, which provides the legal framework for regulating medicines and health products in the country.
According to Fredrick Sekyana, the Public Relations Officer of the National Drug Authority, only a few herbalists in the Teso Sub-region have so far complied with the registration and regulation requirements.
He revealed that only about three herbalists from the region, including Patrick Ogwang, have formally registered and are currently regulated by the authority.
Sekyana made the remarks during an engagement meeting with more than 50 herbalists held at Sparrow Hotel on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
He explained that the sensitization campaign aims to improve the safety and quality of locally manufactured herbal products and encourage herbal practitioners to change their mindset regarding registration.
“Many herbalists fear declaring their knowledge because they think their work will be duplicated. That is not true. Our aim is to protect that knowledge and ensure the products are safe for public consumption,” Sekyana said.
He urged herbalists to document their knowledge and formally register their products so that future generations can benefit from their expertise instead of such knowledge being lost.
One of the herbal practitioners, Margaret Amunot from Ngora District, said herbalists are often misunderstood and wrongly labeled as witch doctors by members of the public.
She explained that most herbalists rely on natural materials such as tree bark, leaves, and roots to treat ailments and do not engage in the barbaric practices sometimes associated with traditional healing.
“We mainly use natural herbs from trees and plants to treat illnesses. We are not witch doctors as some people think,” Amunot said.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Ekodeu, the District Drug Inspector, called on herbalists to register with the National Drug Authority so that their work can be properly monitored by the Ministry of Health Uganda.
He noted that some herbal remedies have proven effective in treating illnesses that sometimes remain stubborn even after conventional treatment.
Ekodeu also revealed that he has been training Village Health Teams (VHTs) on improved health service delivery and asked them to help identify herbalists within their communities so they can be registered and integrated into the health system.
Health officials believe that bringing herbal practitioners into the formal regulatory framework will help improve safety standards, promote responsible use of traditional medicine, and protect the public from harmful or untested herbal products.
