UGANDA’S NO ALCOHOL ACT, FEAST FOR WEST NILE’S ILLICIT ALCOHOLIC BREWERS
A file photo of a drunkard unable to sit on a motorcycle tied on the back of a cyclist – source; social media
By Morish Dramadri
Arua city
The delayed enactment of a legal framework to control the production and consumption of alcohol in Uganda has laid a breeding ground for illicit alcohol products with producers in West Nile now using chemicals, drugs and fertilizers in local brewing endangering the lives of consumers in the region and the nation.
According to a recent report by World health Organization, the average person in Uganda consumes about 12.21litres of pure alcohol per year, a figure that places the country among the highest consumers on the African continent with West Nile ranked second in alcohol consumption in Uganda according to the 2022 Uganda Alcohol Report.
The same report also indicates that 49% of men and 24% of females consume alcohol, and 53% of these use alcohol before the age of 18 years.
Baiga Mike the market committee chairman of Ediofe market observes that, the uncontrolled consumption of alcohol in Uganda is severely affecting the population with many experiencing deteriorating health conditions.
“We have seen people’s health being in bad condition, you see their colors changing, they are developing big chics, the hairs are not strong, they are developing weak hairs on their heads, the impact is really bad,” Baiga attested.
The 2022 Uganda Alcohol report further reveals that only 1% of Ugandans take wine, 3% take spirits, 11% take beer and 89% live on other forms of alcohol, but this has gone unregulated due to lack of legal enforcement framework in Uganda.
Uganda on October, 15, 1965, enacted Uganda potable spirits Act to regulate the manufacture, possession, and sale of potable spirits in the country, an Act that followed the post-independence Enguli (manufacture and Licensing) Act 1964, which were later, repelled the parliament.
Daniel Drileba Dratibi the executive director of Voice of Restoration International, a member of Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance laments that this is the lack of an Act to control alcohol in Uganda is now breeding illegal products in the market.
“Over 89% of alcohol consumed in West Nile region is illicit, right now in our local waragi many women have testified having been using chemicals, for those who are making “malwa” they now use fertilizers, now the Eguli Act, the Liquor Act, all those Acts have been repelled, this is where we have a challenge,” Dratibi decried.
On August, 13, 2024, the parliament of Uganda officially rejected the Alcoholic Drinks(control)bill of 2023 proposed by Hon. Sarah Opendi aimed at renovating the outdated laws dating back to 1965, now leaving the country with no alcohol control.
West Nile police spokesperson SSP. Josephine Angucia admits that, Uganda currently has no law to enforce against alcohol consumption.
“The amendment on Eguli Act is already there in parliament, as far as penal code is concerned, there is no clear law on alcohol yet,” SSP. Angucia affirmed.
According to reports from Uganda Revenue Authority URA, the government of Uganda collects approximately Shs. 1 trillion annually as direct tax revenue from the formal production and sale of alcohol.
However reports also reveal that the country registered 2,861 Liver cirrhosis deaths, 3,900 road accident deaths, and 1500 cancer deaths all linked to alcohol consumption.
Though the dangers shine crystal clear, Uganda continues to hike new taxes nearly doubling the excise duty on specific spirits (e.g. Uganda Waragi) from Shs. 1,700 to Shs. 3,500 per litre
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