Civil Society groups under the Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UAPA) have revived the push for enactment of a law to regulate Alcohol consumption in Uganda citing the deteriorating global position of the country in terms of combating Alcohol abuse, but also the far-reaching effects of high Alcohol consumption to the population.
The new development came at the 4th Uganda Alcohol Policy Conference (UAPC24) organized by UAPA under the theme: Alcohol Control Policies for Holistic Development, at Makerere University School of Public Health in Kampala. The 2-Day Conference brought together different stakeholders in the fight against alcohol abuse included officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Gender, Labor & Social Development, cultural & religious leaders, various Civil Society Groups and from the academia.
According to Juliet Namukasa, the Chairperson of the Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance, the objective of the Conference is to mobilize Ugandans in a bottom-up appeal, to push government especially legislators and politicians on a matter they say does not only affect individual lives of Alcohol consumers but also brings serious socio-economic consequences: breaking families and imposing a heavy burden on the economy.
Uganda currently ranks number one in Alcohol consumption on the African continent but also ranks number Six in the globally with an estimated 5.6 million to 12.6 million alcohol drinkers consuming 110.6 million litres of alcohol each year. The Uganda Alcohol Report 2022, attributes 7 percent of total death in Uganda to Alcohol abuse in the view of alcohol-related Liver Cirrhosis, Road traffic injuries and cancers. The health burden associated to Alcohol abuse, and low productivity associated with Alcohol users are other issues which were highlighted at the Conference.
The conversations at the conference pointed to loopholes in Uganda’s legal framework and specifically the absence of a comprehensive law to regulate alcohol consumption in the country. In August 2024, Parliament unanimously rejected the Alcohol Drinks Control Bill 2023 which had been introduced to regulate the sale, consumption, and advertisement of alcohol. The activists say they are again out to push for reintroduction of a similar law but this time relying on the voices of the people who suffer the brunt of Alcohol abuse.
“Our objective is to put together as much scientific evidence as possible to prove the extent of damage that alcohol is causing to our communities but at the same time mobilize public support for the demand for the law to regulate alcohol.” Namukasa said adding that it is a reason why the conference attracted cultural and religious leaders who are now expected to influence their communities for positive change.
“It is a shame that Uganda is the highest consumer of Alcohol in East Africa and Africa. We need to build concerted efforts to protect our societies from alcohol-related effects” -Hafsa Lukwata, the Head of Mental health Division at Ministry of Health who participated in the Conference said.
Mr Ogwal Alex who represented the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Gender at the conference noted that Alcohol misuse has a negative effect on government’s efforts to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because it’s effects have a direct impact on each of the 17 SDGs be it; poverty eradication, education for children, safer families and communities. He said government has made an effort in developing programs to uplift livelihoods of people through empowerment programs but also admitted that little emphasis has been put in sensitizing communities on dangers associated with Alcohol abuse.
The PS MoGL&SD expressed support for law to regulate Alcohol pointing out that for instance; increasing the legal drinking age, regulating Alcohol content, and promoting responsible sale of Alcohol a just a few of the measures that can make a difference. He committed to work with the stakeholders at the conference to amplify voices of the people to demand for a law through their representatives in parliament.
“We demand that you listen to the voices of the people who are saying Alcohol is a big problem. Our cry to legislators and politicians is that you listen and save Ugandans by enacting a law” Namukasa Juliet remarked.