Officials from the National Drug Authority (NDA) have faced rigorous questioning before Parliament’s HIV Committee regarding reports of farmers mixing Anti-Retro Viral drugs (ARVs) into the diets of pigs and chickens to boost their growth.
ARVs are used for treating individuals infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. However, recent reports suggest that some farmers are using these drugs to fatten their livestock.
NDA officials, led by Amos Atumanya, Senior Inspector of Drugs, admitted their awareness of farmers using ARVs on animals. The officials claimed that this information was not publicized to avoid causing alarm and potentially impacting Uganda’s revenue from animal exports abroad.
“We have been aware of the use of ARVs in animals since 2013, and we are taking measures to address it. However, we must consider the potential repercussions for our economy if we magnify this issue. Therefore, we are working on this matter discreetly without creating widespread panic,” Atumanya stated.
Jenifer Alanyo, one of the UPDF Representatives in parliament, criticized the officials for concealing such critical information from the public. She expressed concern about the possible side effects and cited Makerere University experts who pointed out that heating drugs could increase their toxicity.
“You previously stated that NDA was aware of the presence of ARVs in chickens and pigs back in 2013/2014, and your decision not to disclose it to the public was based on not wanting to alarm the country. Did you ever anticipate that this information might surface? Did you consider the welfare of our community and citizens regarding the effects of these drugs?” Alanyo questioned.
In response, Atumanya cautioned against the consumption of animals fed with ARV drugs. He explained that such consumption could potentially contribute to the development of drug-resistant viral strains in individuals who have not been exposed to ARVs before.