UgandaTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
AfricaLast checked 20 Jul 2026Medium confidenceHow we rate a record
Uganda treats these medications differently. Of the 7 we track, 2 come in on paperwork with a supply cap, 1 has no published rule we could find and 4 need only your prescription.
Serious penalties: The 2016 Act sets 10–25 years for narcotic possession and 5–15 years for psychotropics, with life imprisonment for trafficking and no clear possession threshold; failure to disclose a prior prescription is itself an offence.
By medication
Brand names first, generic in brackets. Each line resolves the drug class rule below, plus anything Uganda records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Unclear
No specific information found on lisdexamfetamine/Vyvanse availability in Uganda; National Drug Register does not show clear entries in searched excerpts.
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Prescription
Concerta (methylphenidate) is available at pharmacies including First Pharmacy and C-CARE with a psychiatrist's prescription required to purchase.
- Dexamphetamine (dexamfetamine)Restricted
Uganda requires a valid prescription, a doctor's certificate endorsed by the country of residence, presentation of the original prescription to the National Drug Authority, and a verification certificate plus a special import permit for narcotics and psychotropics. Travellers carrying ADHD stimulants should obtain the NDA import permit before travel and keep medication in original packaging.
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine ER and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; carry a valid prescription.
- Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Restricted
The same rule as Dexamphetamine above.
- Intuniv (guanfacine)Prescription
The same rule as Strattera above.
- Qelbree (viloxazine)Prescription
The same rule as Strattera above.
Rules by drug class
Narcotic (opioids)
Permit required- Quantity
- No official traveller quantity is published
- Permit
- Required. A special import permit for narcotics and psychotropics plus a verification certificate are required; no numeric quantity or lead time is published.
- Documents
- prescription, home authority certificate, medical certificate, customs declaration, import permit
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Restricted- Quantity
- No specific numeric limit stated (quantity per prescription)
- Permit
- Required. Uganda asks for a verification certificate and a special import permit for narcotics and psychotropics, on top of a prescription, a doctor's certificate endorsed by your home health authority, and the original prescription presented to the National Drug Authority. No form, portal or processing time is published, and the published traveller table dates from November 2014, so write to the NDA well before travelling.
Not internationally controlled
PrescriptionAtomoxetine, guanfacine ER and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; carry a valid prescription.
If a country asks for a certificate from your own health authority
Australia does not issue export certificates for personal medication. There is no Australian office that endorses a traveller's certificate the way a Schengen country's health authority endorses an Article 75 certificate. The Office of Drug Control licenses commercial exporters, and the TGA regulates products rather than certifying individual travellers, so neither will stamp your paperwork.
What to do instead: ask your prescriber for a signed letter on practice letterhead giving your name and passport number, each medicine by generic and brand name, strength, daily dose, total quantity and the dates it covers, plus the prescriber's registration number and contact details. Have it dated close to departure, and carry the original dispensing labels.
Then contact the destination's authority in writing before you book, say plainly that Australia does not issue the certificate they ask for, and ask what they will accept in its place. Keep the reply. A written answer from the authority is the strongest document you can carry, and it is the only thing that closes this gap.
Responsible authority
National Drug Authority (Uganda)
National Drug Authority, P.O. Box 23096, Kampala, Uganda; Tel +256 414 255665; Fax +256 414 255758; e-mail esr@nda.or.ug
Sources
The source behind everything above, so you can check it yourself rather than take our word for it. Always confirm the current rule with the source before you travel.
Your trip pack
Uganda needs a permit before you fly. The pack works out your apply-by date from your travel date.
We have not found an application form or portal for travellers here, so the pack gives you National Drug Authority (Uganda)to contact, what to put in the request, and how long to allow. Plus a doctor's letter pre-filled with your medications and every stop, and a checklist in travel order.
Build your trip packThis page organises publicly available government information and links. It is not legal or medical advice. Rules change and enforcement varies, so always confirm with the official sources above or the Uganda embassy or consulate before travelling.