PMRA hails Uganda’s NDA for RIMS collaboration
The Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) has hailed the collaboration with the Uganda National Drug Authority (NDA) on the implementation of a comprehensive digital transformation programme aimed at strengthening regulatory efficiency, transparency, accountability, and service delivery through the automation of core regulatory functions and processes.
PMRA Director General Charles Chimenya made the remarks on Monday in Kampala, Uganda at the start of a five-day benchmarking visit to the NDA on the implementation of Regulatory Information Management System (RIMS).
The PMRA delegation is undertaking a shadowing visit to gain practical knowledge from the NDA’s successful experience with its integrated RIMS (iRIMS). With financial support from the World Bank, PMRA is in the process of implementing its own RIMS to integrate and automate all core regulatory functions as part of a broader digital transformation agenda.
“We were looking for a peer Regulatory Authority that is not only strong in terms of WHO Maturity Level status but also operates a fully functional RIMS with modern, end-to-end functionalities. We believe there is no better place to learn from than the NDA, an institution that has successfully navigated this complex journey,” said Chimenya.
He thanked the hosts for their warm welcome and commended their openness to sharing best practices. He added that the NDA’s hands‑on experience to RIMS implementation would serve as a critical reference point for PMRA’s ongoing digital transformation journey.
On his part, NDA Secretary to the Authority Dr. David Nahamya assured the PMRA delegation of Uganda’s full support throughout the RIMS implementation process.
“We are here to share with you what we have,” said Nahamya, reaffirming the spirit of collaboration between the two regulatory bodies.
The implementation of RIMS will support the Ministry of Health and Sanitation’s digital agenda through the Malawi National Health Product Register (MNHPR) and the National Product Catalogue (NPC) as core platform components. RIMS will push validated product data to the MNHPR, which will serve as the central record of product registrations and lifecycle events. The NPC will then consume this validated data from the MNHPR and enrich it with supply chain attributes. This integrated flow will establish a single reference point, improve data quality, enable stakeholder information sharing, and support evidence-based regulatory oversight.
PMRA commits to transparency, accountability
The Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) Director General, Charles Chimenya, has reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to transparency and accountability, declaring PMRA a “corruption-free zone”. He made the remarks on Tuesday, July 14 2026, as he officially opened a four-day competency training for the Authority’s Institutional Integrity Committee (IIC) at the Manac Conference Facility in Dowa.
The training, facilitated by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), aims to equip the recently reconstituted IIC with tools to uphold the highest ethical standards.
“This is not just a slogan, it’s a commitment,” Chimenya stated, emphasizing that integrity underpins every regulatory function and decision PMRA makes.
He stressed that delivering on PMRA’s mandate of safeguarding public health demands unwavering public trust, with integrity as the cornerstone of the Authority’s credibility.
The DG issued a direct call for all staff to embrace integrity, with IIC members expected to lead by example. He warned that he would not hesitate to remove any officer from the Committee whose conduct falls short of the expected standard, describing this as a promise to protect the institution’s reputation.
Chimenya assured the committee of full institutional backing from the Board and Senior Management, pledging the necessary resources, enabling environment, and support to carry out their oversight mandate without fear or favor. He recognized the IIC as the “conscience” of PMRA and encouraged members to speak up and raise red flags.
He expressed confidence that by the end of the training, which runs up to Friday, participants would be armed with the tools and skills to execute their oversight mandate with confidence and competence.
Meet PMRA’s new Board of Directors
Government appointed new Board of Directors for the Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) effective 4th December, 2025. The appointment was in accordance with Section 6(1) of the PMRA Act No. 9 of 2019.
The composition of the new Board is as follows:
- Ms. Charlotte Misoya – Chairperson
- Prof. Adamson Muula – Member
- Ms. Cecilia Tembo – Member
- Mr. Patrick Gwedeza – Member
- Dr. Wachimota Phiri – Member
- Mr. Keith Lipato – Member
- Mr. Elos Lodzeni – Member
- Mrs. Ruth Kasalika – Member
The ex-officio members of the Board are as follows:
- Secretary for Health and Sanitation;
- Solicitor General; and
- Controller of Statutory Corporations