Legislators participating in a workshop on antimicrobial resistance at Parliament on Friday, 21 March 2025, urged fresh initiatives to ensure proper drug prescriptions, precise interpretation, appropriate preparation, and correct labeling.
Hon. Dr. Nicholas Thadeus Kamara (FDC, Kabale Municipality), who presided over the session, stated that while Parliament has enacted strong laws and policies to regulate drug dispensation, enforcement remains a major challenge.
“I urge Local Councils and the National Drug Authority to strengthen enforcement, ensuring that drug prescriptions remain the responsibility of qualified prescribers. Additionally, pharmacists and drug shop operators should only dispense medications that have been officially prescribed by doctors,” Kamara emphasized.
Dr. Kamara called upon fellow legislators and all Ugandans to actively participate in combating antimicrobial resistance, describing it as a silent crisis responsible for the deaths of over 37,800 Ugandans annually due to bacterial resistance to medication.
Addressing the gathering, Elly Nuwamanya, a health economist from the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), highlighted the importance of continuous engagement with policymakers to assess the current state of antimicrobial resistance and formulate strategies to prioritize its control at both policy and legislative levels.
“Research conducted by our Centres for Antimicrobial Optimisation Network indicates that Uganda incurs a staggering annual financial loss of approximately Shs67 million due to antimicrobial resistance,” Nuwamanya noted.
He further stressed the necessity of a collective effort from all stakeholders to address antimicrobial resistance, warning that failure to act would lead to an even greater economic burden.
Dr. Francis Kakooza, Head of the Global Health Security Department at IDI, praised the government for presenting a report outlining the economic impact of antimicrobial resistance. He described the report as a timely and reassuring development, demonstrating a strong policy commitment aligned with global health security objectives.
Among the participants at the workshop were representatives from Baylor Foundation Uganda, the Ministries of Health and Water, the Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS-Uganda), the National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services, and the National One Health Platform.
The Parliamentary Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance serves as a legislative advocacy platform, collaborating with various sectors to ensure that lawmakers effectively execute their core responsibilities while actively contributing to the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
