National Drug Authority — Uganda
NDA Uganda · Uganda · africa
Uganda's National Drug Authority — leech-specific regulatory pathway has not been independently verified by ASH; medicinal leeches fall under the general national medical device framework or traditional-medicine pathways as appropriate.
Regulatory Profile
- Agency type
- national regulator
- Region
- africa
- Country
- Uganda
- Leech status
- unregulated
- Last ASH review
- 2026-05-26
- Website
- https://www.nda.or.ug
Relevant Regulation Codes
- Ugandan National Drug Policy and Authority Act, Cap 206
- Ugandan Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act, 2019
Prescriber Requirements
- Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council–registered physician — order required for any biomedical device application
- Traditional and complementary medicine practitioners registered under the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Council may have separate scope; specific hirudotherapy authorisation not independently verified by ASH
Supply Chain & GMP
NDA registration as applicable; English-language labelling. Standard cold-chain conditions.
Import/Export Rules
NDA import authorisation; Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries clearance for live invertebrates; CITES Appendix II paperwork for Hirudo medicinalis / verbana.
Reimbursement Context
Not covered under public insurance schemes for leech therapy specifically.
ASH Editorial Notes
Leech-specific pathway not independently verified by ASH; falls under general medical device / traditional medicine framework as appropriate. The 2019 Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act offers a possible statutory entry point for hirudotherapy under traditional-practice oversight; this has not been independently confirmed by ASH.
Related Jurisdictions
SAHPRA — South Africa
South Africa's SAHPRA (created 2018, replacing the Medicines Control Council) — leech therapy regulated as a medical device under the Medicines and Related Substances Act; traditional-health practitioners under separate THP Council.
NAFDAC — Nigeria
Nigeria's national agency for food and drug administration and control — leech-specific regulatory pathway has not been independently verified by ASH.
DMP Morocco — Morocco
Morocco's Directorate of Medicines and Pharmacy under the Ministry of Health — leech-specific regulatory pathway has not been independently verified by ASH.
FDA Ghana — Ghana
Ghana's Food and Drugs Authority — leech-specific regulatory pathway has not been independently verified by ASH; medicinal leeches fall under the general national medical device framework or traditional medicine pathways as appropriate.