NDA Partners with Alur Kingdom to Combat Rising Drug and Substance Abuse

By Mike Rwothomio

 Alur, Uganda: The National Drug Authority , Uganda's regulatory body responsible for ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines while promoting public health, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Alur Kingdom to address the escalating crisis of drug and substance misuse among youth in the kingdom' territories comprising 56 chiefdoms.

This partnership reflects growing multi-sectoral responses to Uganda's substance abuse challenges, where youth in border and urban areas remain disproportionately affected, amid calls for expanded prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services.

The collaboration was formalized during a high-level meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Kaal Atyak Winam in Zombo District, attended by NDA Public Relations Officer Mr. Fred Kalungi Kabuye and Alur Kingdom Prime Minister (Jadipu) Prince Lawrence Opar Angala, alongside members of the Atyak Royal Council.

Mr. Kabuye emphasized the NDA's commitment to fostering a healthy, productive population, stating: "Our aim is to see that we have a healthy population which can do their work and develop at the end of the day."

A 2024 report published in the Uganda national institute of public health indicated that alcohol and other drug Drug use contributes to a total health burden of 14 percent amongst adolescents, potentially impacting their cognitive development, academic performance and mental health.

Kabuye therefore highlighted the urgent need to engage unemployed and idle youth, who are particularly vulnerable to substance use disorders, especially in border districts where access to illicit substances is facilitated by cross-border trade.

Common substances of abuse reported in the Alur Kingdom include aviation fuel locally known as "Thina", marijuana or cannabis, and uncontrolled alcoholism.

Recent years have seen a sharp increase in cases of mental health disorders majorly amongst the youths linked to substance misuse, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas such as Paidha Town Council, Parombu, Panyimur and Nebbi Municipality, contributing to community insecurity, reduced economic productivity, and family disruptions.

To reach at-risk youth, the NDA will sponsor annual football tournaments organized and managed by the Alur Kingdom.

The sponsorship package includes playing kits, footballs, trophies, and allowances for officials, serving as a platform for prevention education and sensitization on the dangers of drug abuse and alcohol misuse.

Alur Kingdom's Prime Minister Prince Opar Lawrence Angala welcomed the partnership, describing drug misuse as a "special and technical issue" with medical implications.

 He noted its severe impact on youth mental health, economic productivity, and community safety, while affirming the kingdom's readiness to leverage traditional structures, including chiefs, clan heads, religious leaders, and local governments for grassroots sensitization.

The collaboration also extends to promoting regulated herbal medicines through the kingdom's Ministry of Health and exploring cross-cultural mentorship programs for young girls via connections to initiatives like the Nnabagereka Development Foundation, emphasizing values such as Obuntubulamu to preserve cultural heritage and address related social issues like teenage pregnancy, early marriage, and gender-based violence (GBV).

Local leaders attributes the sharp uptick in drug and alcohol abuse to relaxed law enforcements, peer pressure, family attitudes, trauma, depression , anxiety, negligence by parents amongst others.

The Prime Minister conveyed appreciation from Alur King Phillip Olarker Rauni III for the NDA's strategic engagement, underscoring its alignment with the kingdom's health-focused strategies, including recent efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS through discouraging harmful cultural practices.

The strategic partnership between NDA and Alur kingdom aligns with broader national efforts to combat substance use disorders. 

Uganda recorded 2,240 drug-related (narcotics) cases in 2024, a 6% increase from 2,113 cases in 2023, according to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2024. Of these, 1,496 cases were prosecuted, while the remainder remained under investigation or pending further action.

Meanwhile, Uganda has one of the highest alcohol consumption rates in Africa, with per capita consumption of approximately 12.2 litres of pure alcohol per year among adults aged 15+ , based on WHO estimates referenced in 2023 reports and consistent with prior global status reports 

 Alcohol use disorder affects roughly 10% of adults, and harmful alcohol use contributes to approximately 6.5% of deaths in the country, per 2023 WHO statistics and related public health analyses.

Health experts points to the ongoing challenges with both illicit drugs and alcohol-related harm in Uganda.