By Spy Uganda
Kampala: On Tuesday, Parliament dismissed a proposed law spearheaded by Sarah Opendi, the Woman MP for Tororo District, which aimed to regulate the manufacturing, sale, and consumption of alcoholic drinks in Uganda.
The Alcoholic Drinks (Control) Bill, 2023, failed to advance past its second reading after a joint report from the Committees on Health and Trade exposed several flaws in the proposal. The Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, also raised legal concerns, indicating that the bill conflicted with existing laws.
Opendi’s bill, introduced in August 2022, sought to curb alcohol abuse by regulating the manufacture, importation, sale, consumption, and advertisement of alcoholic beverages. It also aimed to prohibit alcohol sales to individuals under 18 years and limit the hours for bar operations.
Under the bill, bars would be allowed to operate only between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays and from noon until midnight on weekends and public holidays.
However, the joint committee rejected these proposals, arguing that they could harm Uganda’s night economy and negatively impact those who rely on alcohol-related businesses. Legislators also pointed out that stringent regulations on alcohol sales could drive the trade underground, citing the increase in illicit alcohol sales during the COVID-19 lockdown as an example.
The committee further criticized the bill for duplicating existing regulatory functions, particularly by assigning quality control responsibilities to officers who would test alcoholic drinks.
The committee argued that these roles already fall under the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and did not need to be reassigned. In their recommendations, the committee suggested that instead of adopting Opendi’s bill, the government should focus on establishing an Alcohol Treatment and Rehabilitation Fund to support those struggling with alcohol disorders.
They also proposed incorporating education on the dangers of alcohol abuse into the national school curriculum. A minority report presented by MPs Dr. Timothy Batuwa (Jinja City West) and Dr. Nicholas Kamara (Kabale Municipality) supported the regulation of alcohol consumption hours, referencing successful policies from countries like Singapore and India.
They argued that setting restrictions on alcohol sales would promote responsible drinking and boost productivity among citizens. Despite these arguments, Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka urged Parliament to reject the bill in its entirety, stating that it duplicated existing laws and would cause regulatory confusion. He also emphasized that the bill lacked a Certificate of Financial Implication, which would impose a financial burden on the government.
The House ultimately voted against the bill.
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