Uganda and South Africa tighten drug licensing and GLP‑1 medicine regulations

Uganda’s Ministry of Health ordered the Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC) to stop licensing drug shops, asserting that only the National Drug Authority (NDA) may issue licences for premises dealing in medicines under the 2026 National Drug and Health Products Authority Act. The directive, signed by Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine, cites a recent Court of Appeal ruling and will affect hundreds of dispensers who must now obtain NDA approval for any drug‑shop operation.

In South Africa, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) seized unregistered GLP‑1 and GIP medicines—including semaglutide and tirzepatide—from iDexis (Pty) Ltd (Sentra Pharmacy) in Pretoria after finding illegal large‑scale manufacturing, poor sterile conditions and no pharmacovigilance system. SAHPRA CEO Dr. Boitumelo Semete‑Makokotlela ordered a full recall of the products and warned of further enforcement actions against entities breaching the Medicines and Related Substances Act.