Masaka- Two men have been sentenced to three years in prison for selling counterfeit drugs that they claim treat HIV/AIDS.
The convicts are Festo Mugabe, 37, a resident of Kanombwe a suburb in Kigali city , Rwanda and his friend Nathan Karamuzi aged 28 of Kalwazi Cell in Kakuuto in Kyotera district.
The accused appeared before Masaka Grade One Magistrate Abdullah Kayizi on Monday after they were arrested from Gold lane hotel on April 30, 2026
Prosecution, led by Michael Wakosase, told the court that the duo were arrested at Golf Lane Hotel after selling the fake drugs to a businessman living with HIV/AIDS.
The convicts told the businessman that the treatment would heal him within two months. Unconvinced, the businessman contacted the police, who then detained the suspects.
The accused were presented to Court where they were charged with spreading misleading information about HIV/ AIDS prevention contrary to HIV/AIDS prevention and control act of 2014.
The accused pleaded guilty and requested forgiveness from the court.
The Magistrate convicted the two men and sentenced each to three years in prison or a fine of 300,000 shillings, stating that he had considered all factors, including their guilty plea and request for forgiveness.
He says that this punishment will deter others from engaging in such reckless behavior.
He further ordered that the drugs exhibited in court be handed over to the National Drug Authority for disposal, as appropriate.
