On the evening of August 23, 2023, Dr. Ashiraf Rashid Lukwago, a herbalist, was apprehended by the National Drug Authority (NDA). The arrest took place at his clinic located in Kawempe, near Kawempe Police and opposite Finca Bank. The reason for his arrest stemmed from a controversial advertisement in which he boldly asserted his ability to cleanse and purify blood.
Confirming the arrest was Abiaz Rwamizi, the spokesperson for the NDA. He revealed that their investigative efforts had culminated in the arrest of Ashiraf Rashid Lukwago, who had been making misleading claims regarding his treatments. The collaboration between the NDA and the Uganda Police Force had led to this operation after weeks of intelligence gathering and diligent pursuit.
Abiaz Rwamizi stated with a hint of foresight, “It was only a matter of time.” He elaborated that after evading their enforcement team and the police for several weeks, Lukwago was finally apprehended on a Wednesday.
The contentious advertisement that triggered this action featured Dr. Lukwago asserting his herbal medicine’s miraculous ability to cleanse an individual’s blood, thereby curing diseases like HIV.