KAMPALA, 26 MARCH 2025: A coalition of public health activists has accused the tobacco industry of interfering with government policies aimed at controlling tobacco use in Uganda.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, the Uganda Tobacco Taxation Coalition (UTTC), a group of seven NGOs, claimed that the tobacco industry has been lobbying Members of Parliament to amend the 2015 law in a way that would favor the industry, but also exposed what they describes as deceptive tactics used by tobacco companies to weaken enforcement of the Tobacco Control Act 2015.
According to Mr Talibita Moses a representative of CSOs at the National Tobacco Control Committee, the tobacco industry in Uganda has continued to violate Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Tobacco Control Act which prohibits advertising, marketing, and labeling of tobacco products, warning that such efforts pose a significant threat to public health by influencing policymaking.
Despite these restrictions, Mr Talibita said the industry is not fully complying with mandatory reporting requirements to the Ugandan government but also tobacco products are still being promoted on digital platforms such as Jiji and Jumia Uganda.
He also noted that there has been a noticeable increase in the availability of banned tobacco products on Ugandan market including ORIS -an illicit brand of cigarettes widely sold in Uganda despite regulatory restrictions. The coalition highlighted that the industry often disregards packaging, branding, and health warning regulations, allowing illegal products to remain in circulation.
The CSOs including Uganda Cancer Society (UCS), Uganda Health Communication Alliance (UHCA), Center for Tobacco Control in Africa (CTCA), United Nations Association of Uganda (UNAU), Uganda National Health Consumers Organization (UNHCO), Way Forward Youth Africa, and Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UAPA) alleged that the industry players have also been involved in funding bogus research on so called “safer” tobacco products, and raised concerns about the growing influence of the tobacco industry in promoting e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products as “reduced-risk” alternatives, arguing that this narrative misleads consumers while downplaying the broader health risks of tobacco use.
“We are calling on the Ugandan government to take immediate action to curb industry interference and enforce stricter regulations but also government should fast-tracking the adoption of the Illicit Trade Protocol (ITP) to combat illegal tobacco trade to increase government revenue, reinforcing the enforcement of health warnings on tobacco products, and hold the tobacco industry accountable for failing to comply with mandatory reporting requirements.” Mr Talibita Moses said.
Additionally, the CSOs called for restricting online tobacco advertisements and taking legal action against violators.
The health activists also pointed out that Uganda has not increased tobacco prices in over seven years, despite inflation and the increasing costs associated with tobacco-related health issues. They argue that higher taxes on tobacco products would discourage consumption while providing additional funds for public health initiatives.
“Over the period of seven years, government has increased taxes on many products including bottled mineral water, except for tobacco products. This is unacceptable!” Ms Mabel Kukunda of UNHCO said, highlighting that for instance the current tax of 55 Uganda Shillings on each stick of Sportsman Cigarette should at least be doubled to 110 Uganda Shillings. Ms Kukunda also noted that CSOs are now considering legal action (in public interest) against business owners of places including bars and hotels which continue to violate regulations related to tobacco consumption.
The UTTC has urged legislators and the public to resist the tobacco industry’s influence and support stronger enforcement of existing laws. With tobacco-related health risks continuing to rise, public health advocates stress that urgent action is needed to protect Ugandans from the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.
