'Model outpatient clinic to improve herbal medicine usage, regulation'

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The Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute (NCRI) says it plans to establish a model outpatient clinic for traditional and herbal medicine, aimed at improving safety, regulation and scientific validation of natural remedies widely used by Ugandans.

Researchers at NCRI say the clinic is expected to assess patients who use traditional medicines and scientifically evaluate herbal products, addressing growing concerns that many people consume natural remedies without proper guidance, dosage, or safety information.

The announcement was made ahead of a two-day Traditional Herbal Medicine Exhibition, scheduled for December 16–17 at the NCRI offices in Wandegeya, Kampala city, to mark the belated African Traditional Medicine Day, usually commemorated on August 31.

Speaking to journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on December 12, 2025, Dr Francis Omujal, a senior research officer at NCRI, said the planned clinic will operate as a model facility, integrating traditional medicine into formal healthcare systems through evidence-based practice.

“Many people take traditional medicines blindly, assuming they are safe simply because they are natural. This clinic will help assess patients, validate products, and promote safe use of herbal medicine,” Omujal said.

He also called for the full operationalisation of the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act, noting that it would streamline the herbal medicine sector and eliminate harmful practices by unregulated practitioners.

“If the Act is fully operationalised, it will help combat bad practices among herbalists and bring order to the sector, while promoting safe, evidence-based traditional medicine,” he added.

The exhibition, to be held under the theme: Strengthening Evidence-Based Traditional Medicine, is expected to bring together researchers, clinicians, regulators, students, policymakers, and traditional medicine practitioners. 

Participants are also expected to showcase herbal medicines currently on the market, research findings and the scientific processes used to validate natural products.

NCRI clinical director Dr Robert Balikuddembe said Uganda still faces major gaps in the regulation and clinical assessment of herbal medicine, even though over 80 per cent of the population relies on traditional remedies.

“Over 80 per cent of Ugandans, and many across Africa, use herbal medicine. Yet very few formal clinics exist where these medicines are assessed and used openly and scientifically. We need fully established clinics for local herbs so that people can use them with confidence and without fear or stigma,” Balikuddembe said. 

According to NCRI, the planned outpatient clinic will function similarly to a conventional health facility, offering triage, consultation, laboratory testing, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Multidisciplinary teams will assess patients and determine whether they should receive validated herbal treatments, conventional care, or an integrated approach.

Improper use of herbal medicine

Balikuddembe cautioned that while herbal medicines can be beneficial, improper use may pose serious health risks, including damage to vital organs such as the liver and kidneys. He urged both users and dealers of herbal medicines to attend NCRI clinics and sensitisation programmes to learn about proper usage, dosage, and safety.

NCRI officials further explained that while the National Drug Authority (NDA) regulates herbal medicine products, the institute supports the process by generating the scientific evidence required for product registration. The institute receives about 200 herbal products annually for validation, with hundreds already notified or registered for quality and safety.

They also warned the public against consuming unverified roadside herbal mixtures sold in jerrycans, noting that such products often lack proper labelling, dosage guidelines, and safety testing.

The exhibition will also highlight issues of intellectual property, innovation, and the integration of indigenous knowledge into national healthcare systems. Officials said the model clinic is expected to serve as a national reference point, with plans to replicate similar services in regional referral hospitals and district health facilities across the country.

As global interest in natural and organic medicine continues to grow, NCRI says Uganda is well-positioned to benefit from its rich biodiversity and indigenous knowledge, provided traditional medicine is regulated, validated, and safely integrated into the healthcare system.

As global interest in natural and organic medicine continues to grow, NCRI says Uganda is well-positioned to benefit from its rich biodiversity and indigenous knowledge, provided traditional medicine is regulated, validated, and safely integrated into the healthcare system.