By Mary Asujo
Ugandan civil society organizations (CSOs) are amplifying their call for the swift passage of the Alcohol Drinks Content Bill 2023, which they believe is crucial for curbing alcohol-related harm and promoting public health.
The bill, currently under consideration by Parliament, proposes stricter regulations on the labelling and content of alcoholic beverages, including mandatory disclosure of alcohol percentages.
In it’s current form, the Alcohol Drinks Control Bill proposes stricter regulations on the labelling and content of alcoholic beverages, including mandatory disclosure of alcohol percentages.
But CSOs, representing a diverse range of health, youth, and women’s rights groups, argue that the bill is long overdue. They point to alarming statistics on alcohol consumption in Uganda, with studies indicating that one in three adults engage in harmful or hazardous drinking.
The Programs Director of Africa Retreat Network, Isharaza Mwebaze, said while presenting a statement to the Parliament’s health committee on Thursday December 21, 2023, that alcohol addiction is by far a medical condition characterized by continued use of alcohol despite the negative consequences.
Mwebaze said that the enormous financial burden highlights the urgency of the situation. “Uganda has some of the highest rates of alcohol consumption in Africa, with the World Health Organization reporting an average of 19.93 liters of pure alcohol consumed per year by Ugandan men and 4.88 liters by women,” he noted.
This widespread alcohol use, he noted, translates to a significant public health crisis, with devastating consequences for individuals, families, and communities. However, he said that the treatment costs vary according to treatment centers.
Rehabilitation
The Chairperson of Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UPA) Ms Juliet Namukasa advocating for this fund association. The alcohol industry will be tasked to make contribution towards the fund and government will realise taxes.
According to her, while it is important to consider the long-term costs of inaction according to alcohol dealers in the sector, the economic burden of rehabilitating alcohol-affected patients is undoubtedly significant. The cost of being in a rehab about 2million and in a year around 24million. The poor can’t afford this expense.
The cost of rehab also encompasses psychotherapy and counseling whereby individual, and groups undergo therapy sessions to address the underlying psychological factors contributing to alcohol dependence.
In addition, the experts said the process will also require vocational rehabilitation to skills training and job placement assistance to help individuals reintegrate into the workforce and regain financial independence.
Pass the Bill
Mwebaze, who also represented Addition Prevention and Rehabilitation Association of Uganda (APRAU), an umbrella body for private institutions currently involved in the prevention, treatment, and care for addition and mental illnesses in Uganda, said every year their respective member organizations provide treatment and care to thousands of Ugandans struggling with addiction to alcohol.
Addition professional and a beneficiary of treatment, Mr Albert Elwa shared how addition messed up his life at the age of 15years, lost his education, job and relationship.
“Addition is no respector of persons. Research shows that young people are more prone to health problems because they are not able to make healthy decision,” said Elwa.
The Coordinator of Uganda Health Communication Alliance (UHCA) Mr Richard Baguma said they are not saying that alcohol should be banned but want its consumption regulated. Countries like Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa have a regulation too.
“There are some people going around misinforming people that we are against alcohol which is not true. We only want it regulated because it comes with adverse effects like 8 types of cancers from studies done by uganda cancer institute,” said Baguma.
While the executive director of Uganda Youth Development Link, Mr Rogers Kasirye refuted claims by alcohol industry that when this law is implemented, there will be job losses. He explained that a regulated alcohol environment brings more revenue. In uganda we drink more according to WHO (2018) but we only bring in 13%. Kenya collects 20 %and Rwanda 16 % of the revenue. But Uganda which drinks more collects far less. The Alcohol Industry will bridge the gap and help to raise more revenue to government.
Proponent Civil Society Organisations of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill argued that stricter regulations on alcohol sales and advertising, alongside increased public awareness campaigns, are crucial to curb consumption and mitigate the associated costs.
They pointed to evidence from other countries where similar measures have led to a decrease in alcohol-related harm.
Some MPs wondered why after treatment and care at the rehabilitation centers, some people go back to relapse.
Isaac Walukagga a lawyer from Africa Legal Network, said people tend to go back to relapse when they have been abandoned by their families or as a result of exposure.
According to Walukaga, 60 percent of the patients recover within a period of three months.