Importing medicines into Uganda

The regulator

The National Drug Authority (NDA) regulates medicines in Uganda under the National Drug Policy and Authority Act of 1993. Import rules sit in the National Drug Policy and Authority (Importation and Exportation of Drugs) Regulations, 2014.

A new law in 2026

Parliament passed the National Drug and Health Products Authority Bill, 2025 in March 2026 and presidential assent was reported at the end of April 2026. The bill repeals the 1993 Act and creates a National Drug and Health Products Authority. Commencement and transition arrangements were not confirmed when this page was written, so check with the NDA which rules apply on the date of import.

Legal routes for unregistered medicines

Under the 2014 regulations, a person may not import drugs without an NDA import licence. The licensed importer then applies for a verification certificate before each consignment. The NDA may, in special circumstances, authorise the import of drugs that the general restriction would otherwise bar. This special authorisation is the route for an unregistered medicine needed by a hospital or a named patient. No published guideline describing the criteria or forms for it was found, so the importer should agree the documents with the NDA first.

The new law moves in the same direction with clearer wording. Parliament's health committee report describes exemptions from registration and licensing for clinical trials, personal use, emergencies and registration samples. It recommended adding compassionate use, extraordinary circumstances and approved research, with the Authority deciding who qualifies under regulations still to be made.

Donated medicines have their own part in the 2014 regulations. Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances need a separate import permit, and the holder must file returns with the NDA within 30 days of receiving the goods.

Documents a buyer usually needs

• NDA import licence of the Ugandan importer
• NDA authorisation for the unregistered drug
• Verification certificate for the consignment
• Prescription and a physician letter explaining the clinical need
• Proforma invoice, commercial invoice and packing list
• Certificate of analysis for each batch
• GMP certificate for the manufacturing site, since the NDA checks GMP compliance before licensing imports
• Air waybill

Timeline: a worked example

A referral hospital in Kampala needs a medicine for a rare disease that is not registered in Uganda.

Total: roughly 3 to 8 weeks, most of it for the NDA authorisation. These are planning estimates, not published service times.

Shipping lanes from India

Uganda Airlines launched nonstop Entebbe to Mumbai flights in October 2023, reported at about three flights a week. Confirm the current schedule before planning a time-critical shipment. Other routes into Entebbe (EBB) connect through Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Dubai or Doha. Express courier service is usually 4 to 7 days door to door. Air cargo is usually 5 to 10 days including NDA inspection and customs.

CIP, CPT and DAP to Entebbe are common. FCA suits importers that use their own forwarder. Uganda is landlocked, so sea freight lands in Mombasa or Dar es Salaam and adds road transit, which suits only large registered consignments.

Practical tips for buyers

• Agree with the NDA, in writing, which documents the special authorisation needs before the exporter books freight.
• If the NDA refuses entry for reasons other than quality, the 2014 regulations require re-export to the supplier within one month, so avoid shipping on an incomplete file.
• Duty on HS 3004 medicines is 0 percent under the East African Community tariff according to World Bank WITS data.
• The Uganda Revenue Authority lists a VAT exemption on imported medicines. Ask a customs agent which other charges, such as withholding tax on imports, apply to the importer.
• Watch for regulations under the new authority law, which may change forms, fees and timelines.