Uganda’s Cabinet has designated Dr. Christine Kirunga Tashobya as the head of the newly established National Drug and Health Products Authority. According to Nile Post, this seven-person governing body will replace the previous National Drug Authority structure. The decision was announced following the 16th Cabinet meeting on November 9, 2026. Tashobya, a public health specialist with three decades of experience, will lead the transition to the expanded statutory body.
The new institution operates under the National Drug and Health Products Authority Act, 2026. Nile Post notes that President Yoweri Museveni signed this legislation into law in April 2026, repealing the 1993 framework that previously governed the sector. The primary shift involves broadening the regulator’s scope. While the old agency focused mainly on pharmaceuticals, the new law adds medical equipment, diagnostic tools, public health chemicals, and cosmetics to its jurisdiction. The authority will function as a body corporate, allowing it to own assets and enter contracts independently.
Dr. Tashobya succeeds Dr. Medard Bitekyerezo, who led the former regulator from 2017. Nile Post reports that Bitekyerezo’s tenure included multiple board terms, and his 2026 reappointment attempt faced scrutiny from the Inspectorate of Government over procedural concerns. Tashobya holds a PhD in Public Health from Antwerp, Belgium, and previously worked as a senior planner in Uganda’s Ministry of Health for more than ten years. She also serves on international taskforces focused on health financing.
The remaining six board members bring diverse expertise in law, engineering, and finance. Nile Post identifies them as Dr. Jerome Mpaata Owagage from the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda; Eng. Tadeo Byabagambi for biomedical devices; Margret Nalwoga for financial management; lawyer Catherine Adok; Dr. Francis Omujal representing the Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute; and Nasuur Gaddaffi for consumer representation. Each member will serve a four-year term with the possibility of one reappointment.
This structural change aims to create a more comprehensive system for protecting consumers from substandard health products. By integrating oversight of non-pharmaceutical items, the new authority seeks to address gaps in the existing regulatory landscape. The board is expected to provide governance as the institution takes on these wider responsibilities.