The NMS Quality Control (QC) Laboratory was established in 2017 to strengthen the assurance of safe, high-quality, and efficacious Essential Medicines and Health Supplies (EMHS) within Uganda’s public health supply chain. This work complements and augments the oversight role of the National Drug Authority (NDA), ensuring that only products meeting the highest standards reach patients and communities.
NMS Quality Control Laboratory: Safeguarding Health Through Excellence
The National Medical Stores (NMS) Quality Control Laboratory is Uganda’s Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, Innovation, and Research. It plays a central role in ensuring that every medicine distributed through the public health supply chain is safe, effective, and of the highest quality.
In supporting the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) initiative, the laboratory empowers local pharmaceutical manufacturers through rigorous testing and quality certification—building trust in Ugandan-made medicines and driving industrial growth.
As a trusted partner to research institutions and regulatory bodies, the NMS lab leads in pharmaceutical innovation, method development, and applied research especially in herbal products. Through advanced testing technologies and scientific expertise, it protects patients, strengthens healthcare delivery, and promotes self-reliance in Uganda’s health sector.
‘’Quality you can trust. Innovation that drives progress. Excellence that inspires confidence.’’
State-of-the-Art Testing Capabilities
The laboratory is fully equipped with modern analytical instruments that cover a comprehensive range of physico-chemical testing techniques, ensuring reliable and accurate results.
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GC-MS/MS – Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
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LC-MS/MS – Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
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UHPLC – Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography
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HPTLC – High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography
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FTIR Spectrometry – Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry
- Autotitrimetry – Automated Titration Systems
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UV-Vis Spectrometry – Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrometry
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Automated Polarimetry – Optical rotation and purity analysis
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Dissolution Testing – Performance evaluation of solid oral dosage forms
Supporting Uganda’s Health Goals
Through its cutting-edge resources and expertise, the NMS QC Laboratory ensures that the medicines distributed across Uganda are not only effective, but also safe and consistent in quality. Its work contributes directly to: