NDA COLLABORATES WITH LUGBARA CULTURAL INSTITUTION TO COMBAT DRUG ABUSE

By Onzoma Albert

Arua City

The National Drug Authority (NDA) has partnered with Lugbara Cultural Institution, the Lugbara Kari to combat drug and substance abuse within the Lugbara chiefdom.

This collaboration aims at eliminating drug hawking and unqualified drug dealers, promote the development and use of African traditional medicine and raise awareness about the safe use of drugs.

As part of this initiative, NDA will organize training sessions for Lugbara Kari chiefs and ministers to enhance their understanding of drug abuse issues.

Fred Kalungi Kabuye, who works with the National Drug Authority, emphasized the importance of working with cultural institutions to effectively address drug-related problems.

“As National Drug Authority we have agreed to work with the Lugbara cultural institution for unlimited period of time. As long National Drug Authority and Cultural Institutions exists each of them needs each other since we serve the same population. National Drug Authority does not own people but the cultural institutions do because they know them right from their birth place and that is why it is very easy for cultural institutions to reach out to the people than National Drug Authority coming from Kampala” he said.

Community dialogues will be facilitated to educate residents, especially in schools and local communities about the harmful effects of drug and substance abuse.

The partnership encourages the involvement of Lugbara Kari officials in NDA’s broader community sensitization campaigns, with tasks of       notifying NDA about illegal drug activities, including hawking and the operation of unlicensed drug shops.

Dr. Isaac Atiku, the minister of health for Lugbara Kari, expressed strong support for the partnership, stating that, it presents a timely opportunity to tackle these pressing issues.

“We are pleased as Lugbara Kari to partner with the National Drug Authority where we shall help them do their work better and it will as well help us in turn to educate our people through the use of our structures up to the family level since our community is battling with issues related to misuse of drugs and substance abuse especially among the youths” he said.

The NDA also urged Lugbara Kari to incorporate anti-drug messages into their cultural ceremonies, urging leaders to actively engage their communities on the health risks posed by drugs.

This partnership aligns with the NDA’s broader mandate, established in 1993, to ensure access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines, regulate drug imports and exports, oversee quality control, license drug outlets and promote herbal medicine research and development.

By involving cultural leaders and integrating traditional practices, the NDA aims to create a sustainable and culturally sensitive approach to reducing drug abuse, especially among young people.

The collaboration highlights the importance of community-based strategies and cultural engagement in addressing health challenges related to drug misuse and mental health disorders in Uganda.