Eronda
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
- 829
- 476
The National Drugs Authority (NDA) has urged men to know their condom size before purchasing the contraceptives, noting that they have received several complaints about small condoms on the market.
Ms Brenda Kitimbo, Manager Medical Devices at NDA, said that the Authority tests and approves condoms before they are allowed onto the market, dismissing claims of poor quality condoms on the market, saying they meet required safety and quality standards.
“We test all the condoms before they are on our markets; there is no single condom that goes on our markets before the approved NDA. All condoms that come in the country and those produced here will have a sample removed and tested, and when they are good, we approve and let them on our markets,” she said.
She explained that condom sizes available on the Ugandan market vary, with standard sizes with a minimum being 53 millimeters and larger options at 56 millimeters.
“Members of the public must also know their size before going on the market to buy a condom. You must know your size,” Ms Kitimbo said.
Her remarks followed concerns raised by Members of Parliament on the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) over complaints from the public about the quality of condoms on the Ugandan market yesterday.
The MPs were on an oversight visit to the NDA tower in Nakasero, Kampala, investigating queries raised in the Value for Money Audit report 2025 concerning the utilization of the building.
NDA is a government-owned organisation in Uganda, mandated to regulate drugs in the country, including their manufacture, importation, distribution, and licensing.
However, she noted that the NDA will intensify public awareness to help consumers understand the different condom sizes and choose products that fit properly.
During the visit, the MPs also discovered that the NDA tower located on plot93 Buganda Road in Kampala was underutilized in that, out of 12 floors (ground floor to 11th floor), eight, including the 4th floor to 11th floor, were not being utilized for their intended purpose; most of these floors were intended to accommodate laboratories
According to the Committee Chairperson, Mr Muwada Nkunyingi, floors four to five and eight to 11 were completely unoccupied.
“We observed that whereas these floors were meant to be laboratories, they were diverted to other uses like accommodating offices while other floors are still unoccupied,” Mr Muwada said.
He added, “They briefed us that they secured some waiver for some floors that were changed into office space, to which we have sought that they provide us with technical approvals and clearances as required by law.”
Dr. David Nahamya, the NDA Secretary, explained that the space intended for laboratories is still unoccupied because of lack of funds to equip them.
However, he revealed that when funds allow, the Authority will equip the floors for their intended purpose in a phased approach, noting that they have received Shs26b and will start equipping some of these floors.
“We shall do it in a phased approach, as we did in our Laboratory in Mulago. We have a time frame, but it will depend on the financial year how much revenue we realize,” Dr Nahamya said.
He added, “ But everything is available; we have all the equipment in our laboratory in Mulago.”
According to the Auditor General, the continued non- utilization of unoccupied floors for laboratory functions undermines the purpose for which significant financial resources were invested in constructing the facility.
Source: Daily Monitor
Ms Brenda Kitimbo, Manager Medical Devices at NDA, said that the Authority tests and approves condoms before they are allowed onto the market, dismissing claims of poor quality condoms on the market, saying they meet required safety and quality standards.
“We test all the condoms before they are on our markets; there is no single condom that goes on our markets before the approved NDA. All condoms that come in the country and those produced here will have a sample removed and tested, and when they are good, we approve and let them on our markets,” she said.
She explained that condom sizes available on the Ugandan market vary, with standard sizes with a minimum being 53 millimeters and larger options at 56 millimeters.
“Members of the public must also know their size before going on the market to buy a condom. You must know your size,” Ms Kitimbo said.
Her remarks followed concerns raised by Members of Parliament on the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) over complaints from the public about the quality of condoms on the Ugandan market yesterday.
The MPs were on an oversight visit to the NDA tower in Nakasero, Kampala, investigating queries raised in the Value for Money Audit report 2025 concerning the utilization of the building.
NDA is a government-owned organisation in Uganda, mandated to regulate drugs in the country, including their manufacture, importation, distribution, and licensing.
However, she noted that the NDA will intensify public awareness to help consumers understand the different condom sizes and choose products that fit properly.
During the visit, the MPs also discovered that the NDA tower located on plot93 Buganda Road in Kampala was underutilized in that, out of 12 floors (ground floor to 11th floor), eight, including the 4th floor to 11th floor, were not being utilized for their intended purpose; most of these floors were intended to accommodate laboratories
According to the Committee Chairperson, Mr Muwada Nkunyingi, floors four to five and eight to 11 were completely unoccupied.
“We observed that whereas these floors were meant to be laboratories, they were diverted to other uses like accommodating offices while other floors are still unoccupied,” Mr Muwada said.
He added, “They briefed us that they secured some waiver for some floors that were changed into office space, to which we have sought that they provide us with technical approvals and clearances as required by law.”
Dr. David Nahamya, the NDA Secretary, explained that the space intended for laboratories is still unoccupied because of lack of funds to equip them.
However, he revealed that when funds allow, the Authority will equip the floors for their intended purpose in a phased approach, noting that they have received Shs26b and will start equipping some of these floors.
“We shall do it in a phased approach, as we did in our Laboratory in Mulago. We have a time frame, but it will depend on the financial year how much revenue we realize,” Dr Nahamya said.
He added, “ But everything is available; we have all the equipment in our laboratory in Mulago.”
According to the Auditor General, the continued non- utilization of unoccupied floors for laboratory functions undermines the purpose for which significant financial resources were invested in constructing the facility.
Source: Daily Monitor
