Tobacco firms shy away from debate on new law

By David Mugabe and Henry Mukasa

The tobacco industry has shelved most of their input during a hot tobacco control bill, claiming they need more time to analyse the bill.

An inside source said the tobacco industry represented by the British American Tobacco Uganda and Leaf Tobacco felt the latest version of the draft legislation was served to them on short notice.

But MP Kassiano Wadri reassured the industry at the Kampala Serena Hotel that the bill will be “consultative and not armchair legislation.”

Dr. David Kamukama, the chairman of the tobacco industry steering committee, called for more time to analyse the bill and respond to specifics.

He dismissed what he called misconceptions that the tobacco industry intimidates the Governments to have their way and that tobacco farmers are poor because of tobacco growing.

The debate on cigarette control is one of the most divisive issues of a fast-moving consumer product.

On Tuesday, it took on new levels with civil society, medical personnel and the tobacco industry holed in a sharp debate on whether the industry needs to be regulated and how.

The private member’s Tobacco Control Bill 2012 moved by Dr. Chris Baryomunsi is intended to regulate the manufacture, sale, labelling, promotion, advertising,distribution and use of tobacco products.

Presenting an overview of the bill, Baryomunsi said Uganda is lagging behind in having a law on tobacco control and pushing for the law expected to be enacted at the end of the year is “not an isolated incident in Uganda but is happening everywhere.”

Medical experts say 13,000 people die annually from cigarette smoking.

They also warn that there is no known benefit from cigarette smoking compared to other consumables.

The tobacco industry also questioned how the new legislation if passed will be aligned to existing local and multilateral legal provisions.

MP David Bahati said the bill is not intended to kill the industry but to minimise the killings from tobacco through regulation.

“Have an input because if you don’t and it becomes law, it will be enforced,” said Bahati.

MP Elijah Okupa also dismissed talk that the industry pays sh80b in taxes, saying the tobacco industry pass this burden to the consumer who have to readjust their disposable income to pay for the cost of smoking.

The draft legislation has strong points on health concerns and the risks related to cigarette smoking.

But general discussions on Tuesday fell short on how the Government will implement these strong laws once passed.

“We hope this law does not join other laws that have not been operationalised.

“The hazardous effects of tobacco on human life is what we all abhor,” said Wadri, who narrated that proceeds from selling tobacco in Terego, West Nile is what enabled him to get educated.

Wadri said there are wonderful laws like on drinking and seatbelts lying idle on shelves.

He argued that there is no guarantee that having a new law will change anything with the weak implementing arm of the Government.