Police Arrest Man with Counterfeit Sanitizers

By Kampala Post Reporter

Police in Katwe have arrested Night Stephen a resident of Nsambya Central Zone in Makindye Division over dealing in fake disinfectants and sanitizers.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango says they raided the suspect’s home on Thursday after getting information that he was illegally making the products at his home.

“Several items were recovered including bottles containing liquid with a sticker labelled Life Care Diagnostics, an alcohol meter, empty jerricans, measuring cylinders, tubes and boxes,” Onyango revealed adding that upon interrogation Night admitted illegally manufacturing the products.

The suspect is now detained at Katwe Police Station and “the holding charge is dealing in counterfeit products.”

“National Drug Authority and Uganda National Bureau of Standards have been brought on board as part of the team to investigate the matter,” Onyango told the media as he appealed to the public to be on the lookout for counterfeit sanitizers in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The arrest comes just days after Ministry of Health directed National Drug Authority (NDA) to investigate sanitizers on the market, to weed out fake ones. Appearing before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) early this week, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine said there’s suspicion that fake manufacturers could take advantage of the current high demand for sanitizers as the country tries to guard against the contagious coronavirus, to supply fake ones.

Dr. Atwine said NDA had been instructed to take samples of the sanitizers on the market to ensure they meet the required standard. She said only those with 60 percent alcohol content should be allowed on the market.