KAMPALA – Police have arrested Robert Mijumbi, a Kyambogo University student, who has been claiming to have a cure for COVID-19.
Police in the company of National Drug Authority (NDA) staff on Wednesday searched what Mujumbi has been claiming to be a laboratory at his residence in Bweyogerere, suburb of Wakiso District.
However, they didn’t find the laboratory. He was then laid away for further questioning by detectives.
Mr Mijumbi has been in the news over the last week after he authored YouTube videos, claiming to have developed an enzyme-based cure for HIV and COVID-19.
On Wednesday, NDA also dismissed the said cure and denied having certified it.
“NDA wishes to inform the public that no such drugs have been evaluated and approved by the National Drug Authority for clinical use,” they said in a statement.
“The process of drug discovery involves extensive foundational pre-clinical research that provides unequivocal proof of concept for clinical success of a drug candidate. In Uganda’s context, this level of research is governed by institutional review boards in liaison with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the National Drug Authority,” NDA added.
NDA further reminded the public that there is no known cure for COVID-19 at present.
“The public should be cautious of products that claim to treat or cure COV1D-19. Such products may include foods and food supplements and preparations purporting to be drugs or vaccines. Products that claim to cure, mitigate, treat, diagnose or prevent disease, but are not proven safe and effective for those purposes, are illegal and may lead to serious health hazards, including death; and personal financial loss.”
Early this week, the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda also warned Mijumba against creating unnecessary excitement among members of the public, claiming that his study has not been subjected to extensive trials.